What blenny should I get, and would it be ok with my fish?

Salty Brother · 03/07/2006, 09:35 PM

Im a week into hyposalinity treating ich. I have two gobies, but since I have the chance (I know it sounds mean) I want to get rid of the YWG and get a pistol shrimp for the other one. Then when all fish are back in tank, Id like to get a blenny. They are very cool, and I think they would help with my algae problem. By that time they would be housed with 2 perc clowns, royal gramma, Hi-Fin Red Banded goby and pistol shrimp and a cleaner shrimp. If I do get the blenny, I would also like to add a 4-line wrasse in the very end as my last fish. Any suggestions for me.
Thanks,
Patrick

P.S. pics would also be nice

smleee · 03/07/2006, 09:47 PM

What exactly is the "algae problem"? I like to operate under the idea that I don't get anything new for the tank unless it's stable.

eee

Blown 346 · 03/07/2006, 09:55 PM

I wouldnt add a blenny just to help with out with a algae problem, you would be putting a band aid on the problem instead of finding the actual source of what is causing the algae.
Other wise, blennys are cool, but are jumpers, a secure top would be needed.
I would either do the blenny or the wrasse, not both, the tank already has a big bio load.

Johnsteph10 · 03/07/2006, 10:00 PM

I'm a personal fan of lawnmower blennies - very interesting fish, peaceful, great community fish. Will help with algae problems.

Salty Brother · 03/07/2006, 10:01 PM

the tank is stable, im not trying to put a band aid over the algea, I just have some hair algea he could graze off, Im not putting him in there to get rid of it all.
I checked all params today, nitrites, nitrates, amonia, all 0 pH 8.2 and calcium 420.
Im sorry, I think I made the situation sound different than it is.
Also could you please help me on a type to get, and also would it be ok with the other shrimp goby?

Salty Brother · 03/07/2006, 10:05 PM

"It is known to nip at small-polyped stony coral and clam mantles." that was on live aquaria for the sailfin, is that ture, becuase it would be a problem becuase in the future I want to have some of both.

Salty Brother · 03/07/2006, 10:11 PM

What about a mandarin? Very beautiful fish. I think it would be ok with my other fish. How do I know if I have enough pods to support it?

otterpop510 · 03/08/2006, 01:25 AM

not sure if you have enough pods for a mandarin, most people on rc recommend at least 100 lbs of live rock in an established tank (at least 1 year) or a good fuge setup to supply the pod population. also, not a good idea to get a wrasse and a mandarin in such a small tank for the same reason, the wrasse will outcompete the mandarin and there is not enough lr in your tank to supply enough pods for both unless you plan to supplement regularly..

maybe if you like wrasses a blenny would be a better bet. i like the bicolor blennies, little more colorful than the lawnmower and don't get so big from what i've heard, though they eat algae but not as efficiently as the lawnmower blenny.

huladaman · 03/08/2006, 02:07 AM

The mandarin's are awesome fish but you definately need a ton of pods for them to survive. I tried one in my 55 with about 80 pounds of live rock and a 29 gallon fuge and he ate and ate till there was nothing left. He did start eating brine for awhile but eventually perished. I have a lawnmower blenny and he rocks, if only he could cut through the algae in a straight line instead of little mouth marks all over the place.....

Swanwillow · 03/08/2006, 04:57 AM

most blennies don't eat algae....

I have a midas I love, but hes only for show... hasn't touched a peice of algae!!!

BradL. · 03/08/2006, 06:05 AM

Lawnmower would be my first choice

The Reefer91 · 03/08/2006, 06:21 AM

i'd go lawnmower blenny. however, it's been said that at first, they might have trouble eating. don't know if it's true though. secondly, NO mandarins! i can't stress this enough. a mandarin shouldn't be in a tank unless it is over 55gs(at the very MINIMUM) with 100lbs+ of rock, PLUS a opperating fuge. i'm planning on getting one for my 180g once it's been setup for at least a year-year and a half. i will also have about 200lbs rock before he enters and i will have a 50g refugium.

my point is , don't risk it and put a mandarin in there.

however, i believe the LM blenny is better than the bicolor, as it is less aggressive

Salty Brother · 03/08/2006, 07:26 AM

ok scratch the mandarin. But does the lawnmower touch SPS or clams? And if I get a blenny I dont think i will get a wrasse.

Blown 346 · 03/08/2006, 07:51 AM

The lawnmower Blenny wont harm any corals, but he will perch on them which is cool. Mine use to perch on my leathers and look down over the whole tank. They really have great personality's, they kind of remind of Homer Simpson by the way they look.

MBuck · 03/08/2006, 08:36 AM

I have a LB, I have had him since november, he's a riot! He leaves his "lip prints" all over my glass too, it cracks me up to see them...he has been a good boy too, not bothered any corals, or other fish.

know-it-all · 03/08/2006, 09:32 AM

how about an ember blenny?

related to the sailfin blennies, but with a bit more color than the black sailfins

smleee · 03/08/2006, 10:06 AM

Hair algae is usually a sign of elevated phosphate levels caused by a number of things. If you do have some you might want to do some searching about HA if you haven't already, get rid of it now before it takes hold.

That being said my favorite blennie is the Midas Blennie, most pictures online don't really show off the bright coloring they have though.

eee

Salty Brother · 03/08/2006, 04:23 PM

smleee, the hair algea is kinda going away, I used to have a lot, but know have very little. I wonder why? Could people please give more pics of their own blennies?
Thanks

fishfanv · 03/08/2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by know-it-all

how about an ember blenny?

related to the sailfin blennies, but with a bit more color than the black sailfins

here's my ember blenny, or at least, it was id'd as an ember blenny. i wonder now if it really is an ember because it doesn't look at all like your pic, know-it-all. mine doesn't eat algae, though. but it does eat mysis, prime reef, f2, cyclop-eeze, krill and the occasional spirulina flake if my coral beauty hasn't gobbled up all the flakes before the blenny can get any.

know-it-all · 03/08/2006, 05:38 PM

I have several different kinds

my ember (best pic I could take)

my black sailfin (with some sand on it's fin)
I wish I could get a full body shot, it's got a yellow tail with red accents

my bi-color (again I wish I could get a better pic)

WILDTHING · 03/08/2006, 08:18 PM

Know it all, do you have all of them in the same tank? If so do they get along?

colleen

know-it-all · 03/08/2006, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WILDTHING
Know it all, do you have all of them in the same tank? If so do they get along?

colleen

the ember and bi-color are in the 72 together
they get along like 2 brothers
every now and again they just go after each other
the bi-color is about half the size of the other

fishfanv, mine was sold as an Indian Blenny
the best I could ID it was as the ember (cirripectes stigmaticus)
I've the seen the one you have before, and it's awesome
if it's the one I'm thinking of, it can get some blue dots on the body
the best I can id yours is (Ecsenius bicolor) from the Indian ocean
which is the same species as my bicolor, just from a different area
(they are not algae eaters)

fishfanv · 03/09/2006, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by know-it-all
fishfanv, mine was sold as an Indian Blenny
the best I could ID it was as the ember (cirripectes stigmaticus)
I've the seen the one you have before, and it's awesome
if it's the one I'm thinking of, it can get some blue dots on the body
the best I can id yours is (Ecsenius bicolor) from the Indian ocean
which is the same species as my bicolor, just from a different area
(they are not algae eaters)

know-it-all, i don't think my blenny is an escenius bicolor. i googled that species but all the pics show a yellow tail and my blenny doens't have that. he's dark blue throughout his entire body except for when he shows his lighter blue streakings on his head area like in the picture, usually when he's upset or being a territorial lil bugger.

know-it-all · 03/09/2006, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishfanv
know-it-all, i don't think my blenny is an escenius bicolor. i googled that species but all the pics show a yellow tail and my blenny doens't have that. he's dark blue throughout his entire body except for when he shows his lighter blue streakings on his head area like in the picture, usually when he's upset or being a territorial lil bugger.

I know what you mean, I have the black/yellow bi-color blenny
but, I looked through the Dr. Burgess's Atlas
p.532, bottom left corner
p. 528.06 bottom right corner

now the book is often inaccurate, but p. 528.06-528.07 has
4 different fish listed as bi-color's

03/07/2006, 09:35 PM	#1
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	What blenny should I get, and would it be ok with my fish? Im a week into hyposalinity treating ich. I have two gobies, but since I have the chance (I know it sounds mean) I want to get rid of the YWG and get a pistol shrimp for the other one. Then when all fish are back in tank, Id like to get a blenny. They are very cool, and I think they would help with my algae problem. By that time they would be housed with 2 perc clowns, royal gramma, Hi-Fin Red Banded goby and pistol shrimp and a cleaner shrimp. If I do get the blenny, I would also like to add a 4-line wrasse in the very end as my last fish. Any suggestions for me. Thanks, Patrick P.S. pics would also be nice

03/07/2006, 10:00 PM	#4
Johnsteph10 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The South Posts: 2,537	I'm a personal fan of lawnmower blennies - very interesting fish, peaceful, great community fish. Will help with algae problems. __________________ John Current Tank Info: None

03/08/2006, 01:25 AM	#8
otterpop510 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: oakland, ca Posts: 1,018	not sure if you have enough pods for a mandarin, most people on rc recommend at least 100 lbs of live rock in an established tank (at least 1 year) or a good fuge setup to supply the pod population. also, not a good idea to get a wrasse and a mandarin in such a small tank for the same reason, the wrasse will outcompete the mandarin and there is not enough lr in your tank to supply enough pods for both unless you plan to supplement regularly.. maybe if you like wrasses a blenny would be a better bet. i like the bicolor blennies, little more colorful than the lawnmower and don't get so big from what i've heard, though they eat algae but not as efficiently as the lawnmower blenny. __________________ huh? you mean those are not purple people eaters in my avatar? Current Tank Info: home: 75 gal reef, 18 gal planted discus; class: 20 gal reef and some goldfish which won't die..

03/08/2006, 02:07 AM	#9
huladaman Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincy, Oh Posts: 81	mandarin The mandarin's are awesome fish but you definately need a ton of pods for them to survive. I tried one in my 55 with about 80 pounds of live rock and a 29 gallon fuge and he ate and ate till there was nothing left. He did start eating brine for awhile but eventually perished. I have a lawnmower blenny and he rocks, if only he could cut through the algae in a straight line instead of little mouth marks all over the place.....

03/08/2006, 04:57 AM	#10
Swanwillow goby girl Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bemidji MN Posts: 2,025	most blennies don't eat algae.... I have a midas I love, but hes only for show... hasn't touched a peice of algae!!! __________________ my advice:walk away. do nothing. til tomorrow. if its still alive, it will hopefully be fine. If you do not see it, do not try to find it. it may be hiding. just LEAVE it alone Current Tank Info: starting over! 125 gallon. Soon to be home to Blackfoot clowns, A. nigripes

03/07/2006, 09:47 PM	#2
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	What exactly is the "algae problem"? I like to operate under the idea that I don't get anything new for the tank unless it's stable. eee

03/07/2006, 09:55 PM	#3
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	I wouldnt add a blenny just to help with out with a algae problem, you would be putting a band aid on the problem instead of finding the actual source of what is causing the algae. Other wise, blennys are cool, but are jumpers, a secure top would be needed. I would either do the blenny or the wrasse, not both, the tank already has a big bio load.

03/07/2006, 10:01 PM	#5
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	the tank is stable, im not trying to put a band aid over the algea, I just have some hair algea he could graze off, Im not putting him in there to get rid of it all. I checked all params today, nitrites, nitrates, amonia, all 0 pH 8.2 and calcium 420. Im sorry, I think I made the situation sound different than it is. Also could you please help me on a type to get, and also would it be ok with the other shrimp goby?

03/07/2006, 10:05 PM	#6
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	"It is known to nip at small-polyped stony coral and clam mantles." that was on live aquaria for the sailfin, is that ture, becuase it would be a problem becuase in the future I want to have some of both.

03/07/2006, 10:11 PM	#7
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	What about a mandarin? Very beautiful fish. I think it would be ok with my other fish. How do I know if I have enough pods to support it?

03/08/2006, 06:05 AM	#11
BradL. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 991	Lawnmower would be my first choice __________________ Put the most exotic creatures in the world in their rightful place---your living room.

03/08/2006, 06:21 AM	#12
The Reefer91 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 1,250	i'd go lawnmower blenny. however, it's been said that at first, they might have trouble eating. don't know if it's true though. secondly, NO mandarins! i can't stress this enough. a mandarin shouldn't be in a tank unless it is over 55gs(at the very MINIMUM) with 100lbs+ of rock, PLUS a opperating fuge. i'm planning on getting one for my 180g once it's been setup for at least a year-year and a half. i will also have about 200lbs rock before he enters and i will have a 50g refugium. my point is , don't risk it and put a mandarin in there. however, i believe the LM blenny is better than the bicolor, as it is less aggressive __________________ Dan "Every day we fade little by little, 'till there's nothing left of us but the lies we've sown." Current Tank Info: 20g L display: 2x65watt Coralife light, Octopus 150 needle wheel protein skimmer, 1 Koralia 2 and 2 powersweeps, and a DIY sump/fuge.....120G in the works!!!

03/08/2006, 07:26 AM	#13
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	ok scratch the mandarin. But does the lawnmower touch SPS or clams? And if I get a blenny I dont think i will get a wrasse.

03/08/2006, 07:51 AM	#14
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	The lawnmower Blenny wont harm any corals, but he will perch on them which is cool. Mine use to perch on my leathers and look down over the whole tank. They really have great personality's, they kind of remind of Homer Simpson by the way they look.

03/08/2006, 08:36 AM	#15
MBuck Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shelby, Ohio Posts: 452	I have a LB, I have had him since november, he's a riot! He leaves his "lip prints" all over my glass too, it cracks me up to see them...he has been a good boy too, not bothered any corals, or other fish. __________________ Marie Do not dwell on the past, improve the future!! ~ M. Current Tank Info: 180g Reef, mated pair B/W percs, 3- pajama cardinals, long-spined urchin, yellow tang, six-line wrasse, hermits, snails, 2 Chromis, LP Angel, Foxface, 2- Royal Grammas, LMB, Sailfin Tang, pink damsel.

03/08/2006, 09:32 AM	#16
know-it-all Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: in my now frozen chair (aka Wisconsin) Posts: 1,488	how about an ember blenny? related to the sailfin blennies, but with a bit more color than the black sailfins __________________ current tank 94 corner, SPS/LPS basement sump

03/08/2006, 10:06 AM	#17
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	Hair algae is usually a sign of elevated phosphate levels caused by a number of things. If you do have some you might want to do some searching about HA if you haven't already, get rid of it now before it takes hold. That being said my favorite blennie is the Midas Blennie, most pictures online don't really show off the bright coloring they have though. eee

03/08/2006, 04:23 PM	#18
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	smleee, the hair algea is kinda going away, I used to have a lot, but know have very little. I wonder why? Could people please give more pics of their own blennies? Thanks

03/08/2006, 05:38 PM	#20
know-it-all Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: in my now frozen chair (aka Wisconsin) Posts: 1,488	I have several different kinds my ember (best pic I could take) my black sailfin (with some sand on it's fin) I wish I could get a full body shot, it's got a yellow tail with red accents my bi-color (again I wish I could get a better pic) __________________ current tank 94 corner, SPS/LPS basement sump

03/08/2006, 08:18 PM	#21
WILDTHING Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Churchville, Va Posts: 1,753	Know it all, do you have all of them in the same tank? If so do they get along? colleen