Starry Blenny Aggression?

Gio67 · 02/28/2012, 08:15 PM

I purchased a Starry Blenny one week ago and have had three deaths since introducing him to the tank! He is already about 3" in size and very active in and around my reef. I have a BioCube HQI and when I added him to the tank, I also added three Banggai Cardinals. I already had two Black Clowns, three peppermint shrimp, several hermits and astrea snails that had been established in the tank for a couple weeks.

After two days of introducing the Blenny, I found one of the shrimp half eaten and the Blenny was my prime suspect. Yesterday, I discovered a badly beaten up Benggai dead. This evening I witnessed the Blenny attack one of the other Benggai's and it actually killed him and was still after it when it was dead! Now I have only one Benggai left and I am concerned whether or not I made a mistake introducing the Starry Blenny to the tank.

Is this normal behavior? Trust me, it is not a hunger issue as he eats the Mysis Shimp along with the regular algae within the tank. He actually swims all over eating when I do put the Mysis Shrimp into the tank. So, what is causing him to be so aggressive? Should I remove him? Advice would be appreciated.

Sk8r · 02/28/2012, 10:17 PM

I don't know how large your cube is---they apparently have issues if in too small a tank. Mine is that size in a 54, living amiably with other species (gramma, etc) that have been targets of aggression in a smaller tank.

Gio67 · 02/28/2012, 11:16 PM

My HQI BioCube is a 29 Gallon - I have about 10lbs of Live Rock that he is living in.

daplatapus · 02/29/2012, 09:34 AM

I'm beginning to not be sure about them either. I've got one in my 80 gal and has tons of personality, but for some reason he just won't leave my yellow watchman goby alone. He's beat him up so bad I had to catch my YWG and quarantine him for a bit. He's recovering nicely and I'm thinking of adding an Alphaeus Randalli to see if that will help, but not sure what to do after that.

Sugar Magnolia · 02/29/2012, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gio67

My HQI BioCube is a 29 Gallon - I have about 10lbs of Live Rock that he is living in.

This is definitely the problem. I'd suggest removing the starry blenny before it kills any more fish.

BTW, I'd stick with just three fish in that size tank, and you might want to consider adding more lr for your biological filtration.

Sugar Magnolia · 02/29/2012, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daplatapus

I'm beginning to not be sure about them either. I've got one in my 80 gal and has tons of personality, but for some reason he just won't leave my yellow watchman goby alone. He's beat him up so bad I had to catch my YWG and quarantine him for a bit. He's recovering nicely and I'm thinking of adding an Alphaeus Randalli to see if that will help, but not sure what to do after that.

The problem there is the body shape similarities. They will go after any similarly shaped fish. The only way to stop it is to remove one or the other.

TigeBell · 02/29/2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

This is definitely the problem. I'd suggest removing the starry blenny before it kills any more fish.

BTW, I'd stick with just three fish in that size tank, and you might want to consider adding more lr for your biological filtration.

I have a Starry in my 29G biocube with 30 lbs of LR. He/She is a model citizen. However, I do think it depends upon the fish itself since each has it's own personality and each one is different. Mine was introduced much later than all the other inhabitants.

eja99 · 02/29/2012, 10:50 AM

I have 1 starry blenny in a 160. Given the amount space and number of fish I have (10), I'd say he's aggressive.

02/28/2012, 08:15 PM	#1
Gio67 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 27	Starry Blenny Aggression? I purchased a Starry Blenny one week ago and have had three deaths since introducing him to the tank! He is already about 3" in size and very active in and around my reef. I have a BioCube HQI and when I added him to the tank, I also added three Banggai Cardinals. I already had two Black Clowns, three peppermint shrimp, several hermits and astrea snails that had been established in the tank for a couple weeks. After two days of introducing the Blenny, I found one of the shrimp half eaten and the Blenny was my prime suspect. Yesterday, I discovered a badly beaten up Benggai dead. This evening I witnessed the Blenny attack one of the other Benggai's and it actually killed him and was still after it when it was dead! Now I have only one Benggai left and I am concerned whether or not I made a mistake introducing the Starry Blenny to the tank. Is this normal behavior? Trust me, it is not a hunger issue as he eats the Mysis Shimp along with the regular algae within the tank. He actually swims all over eating when I do put the Mysis Shrimp into the tank. So, what is causing him to be so aggressive? Should I remove him? Advice would be appreciated. __________________ Gio Currently have a Oceanic Bio Cube HQI & RedSea Max 250 "Temper Action With Wisdom" Current Tank Info: Oceanic HQI BioCube & RedSea Max 250

02/28/2012, 10:17 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I don't know how large your cube is---they apparently have issues if in too small a tank. Mine is that size in a 54, living amiably with other species (gramma, etc) that have been targets of aggression in a smaller tank. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/28/2012, 11:16 PM	#3
Gio67 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 27	My HQI BioCube is a 29 Gallon - I have about 10lbs of Live Rock that he is living in. __________________ Gio Currently have a Oceanic Bio Cube HQI & RedSea Max 250 "Temper Action With Wisdom" Current Tank Info: Oceanic HQI BioCube & RedSea Max 250

02/29/2012, 09:34 AM	#4
daplatapus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Port Alberni, B.C., Canada Posts: 895	I'm beginning to not be sure about them either. I've got one in my 80 gal and has tons of personality, but for some reason he just won't leave my yellow watchman goby alone. He's beat him up so bad I had to catch my YWG and quarantine him for a bit. He's recovering nicely and I'm thinking of adding an Alphaeus Randalli to see if that will help, but not sure what to do after that. __________________ 130 lbs Tonga LR, GFO and Carbon reactors, Tunze ozmolator ATO, 2- 20 gal QT tanks, Current Tank Info: 80 gal display 48L X 24H X16D, 2 MP-40's, Odyssea 2-250W MH 4-HO T-5 Actinic's, 80 lbs Aragonite sand, 4 - 150W titanium heaters, Reeflo Baracuda return pump, 150gal sump, Filter Guys Reef Miser 6 stage + 1 Dual RO/DI, LifeReef 48" Skimmer

02/29/2012, 10:50 AM	#8
eja99 HI Monk Seal Poipu Kauai Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 224	I have 1 starry blenny in a 160. Given the amount space and number of fish I have (10), I'd say he's aggressive.