question about blennies...
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Fish
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about fish.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31299
Printed Date: January 14 2026 at 11:27am
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Topic: question about blennies...
Posted By: Riverton_Ten
Subject: question about blennies...
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 1:26pm
I want a lawnmower blenny. I've ALWAYS wanted one. But the largest tank I own is 20 gallons. I assume that's too small for a fish that could grow to 5 inches. Is there another blenny, or fish that looks like a lawnmower, that'll sift the sand or eat algae, and won't slowly DIE in such a small tank? Bought a scooter -- he lasted a month.  I hated that I didn't look up the correct information in advance of that purchase. So that's why I'm asking now. Any recommendations on such a fish?
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Replies:
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 1:35pm
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Hmmm, maybe I'm wrong, but I think most people would tell you that a lawnmower blenny is fine in a 20 gal tank. I'd feel confident in buying a LB and I think you'll be fine.
Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Riverton_Ten
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 1:44pm
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In the immortal word(s) of Napoleon Dynamite:
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Adam, you made my day.
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Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 2:40pm
| Im not sure what problems you had with that scooter blenny but I have had mine for a long time and he is really easy to keep happy. They dont grow that fast so even if you get a small one he should be ok in there. |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 2:56pm
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Disagree on the scooter. They aren't actually blennies but dragonets, and I wouldn't be quick to recommend them in small reef tanks. Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Riverton_Ten
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 3:14pm
| they eat small crustaceans, and my tank didn't support enough copepods and amphipods to keep the scooter full. And he wouldn't take brine shrimp. But the lawnmower, they're algae munchers right? Or are they sand sifters? Or both? And if the algae runs low, can I add nori to the tank? |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 3:36pm
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Yes on all that.
Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 4:46pm
| I see your point about eating pods. I put mine in my tank when it was first new. before I had a large population of pods and he eats bloodworms. He doesnt touch the brine shrimp but loves the worms. That may be a personal choice of his. Did you try bloodworms? |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 4:54pm
Adam may be right but I think 20 gallon is a little small for a lawnmower blenny. I would get one of the smaller herbivorous blennies such as a Tailspot blenny for a tank that size.
Mike -------------  |
Adam Blundell wrote:Posted By: Riverton_Ten
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 5:16pm
| What if I had TWO tanks that I could switch him back and forth between? I've got a 16g that is ripe with algae and has a 2-1/2" thick sandbed. He could go to town in there and wouldn't be hungry for a long time. And not so big a tank that I couldn't catch him when needed to transfer him to the other...... dumb idea? |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 5:26pm
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They are very difficult to catch and you would probably tear apart the tank trying to catch one. If a Lawnmower Blenny is what you really want then I say go for it. You can supplement their diet with Nori.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: CrimsRayne
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 6:18pm
Last I checked Lawnmowers don't sift sand... I've had one for well over a year, if they do sift I am taking mine back as defective 
How about an eyelash blenny? (not the Chestnut Eyelash Blenny)
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/241491/product.web - http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/241491/product.web
I have one of these guys in my frag tank. He is 2-2.5" long and eats well. (also leaves little kiss marks on the algae on the glass, like a lawnmower blenny) I got mine from Marine Aquatics, 6+ months ago.
Edit: these guys don't sift sand either. ------------- "What we know from this hobby is too hard to share with the people who just want to look and not get wet." -Rioreefer "The Puffer Girl" Zoo freak :) West Jordan |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 7:18pm
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CrimsRayne is right. Blennys are not sand sifters.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: thefu
Date Posted: February 04 2009 at 8:36pm
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I just got one (LB) for my tank last week and gave it to my son as HIS first fish in the tank for doing a good job at school. He named it Trimmer and we all love it...it has these cool "fangs" and "eyelashes" and is about 3-4" long. They have so much character all perched up on the rocks with their eyes looking all over.
Click the link below and you might see him once and a while ;) I just got it set up on the web...pretty cool...
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