Algae Blenny Question

revhtree · Jun 5, 2008

Hey all I got an algae blenny about 1-2 months ago and it has always picked on LR, glass, and PH's. I even watched it picking on stuff tonight, but it is sooooo skinny. It's stomack looks all shrunk in and it refuses all types of foods. I have tried:

brine
cyclopeeze
reefnutrition pods
algae clips
flake
algae pellets

Any ideas?

Russellaqua · Jun 6, 2008

Mine has always been a big fan of mysis shrimp. I actually had to move it to another tank and "re-train" it to eat algae because it stopped and was only eating mysis. Sounds like a strange problem to have with an algae blenny. Usually they have nice round bellies.

143gadgets · Jun 6, 2008

Try nori attached to a piece of live rock with a rubber band.

Eklikewhoa · Jun 6, 2008

I second the use of nori...maybe wrap up a little mysis sushi roll for it.

JuniorMC8704 · Jun 6, 2008

likely this will not be the case, but it has worked for me several times.

Ive had stubborn skinny fish from time to time, and low and behold the miracle food for them was Blood Worms. Not overly confident that this would be a good solution in this instance, but way be worth a try.

Also, if you have never tried Rod's Food, do so.

Ive never seen ANYTHING that didn't go into a feeding frenzy when i feed that stuff.

I'm convinced theres crack in it.

demonsperm · Jun 10, 2008

Add some GSP. OR flake food or pellet or try a few frozen food from cyclops to brine to marine cusine. Are you sure its a type of algea blenny. To me it sounds like a type of dragon fish. Do you have its excect name or a pic ?

revhtree · Jun 10, 2008

Here is what it looks like...I am going to try rubber banding algae to a rock..

anomie · Jun 10, 2008

Rev, I've been reading more and more posts about people having problems getting lawnmower blennies to eat. I remember when I first started this hobby that these guys were supposed to be super easy to care for. I wonder if they are being collected in a different area or something. Good luck.

Andy Lister · Jun 10, 2008

They are very tricky to keep weight on. I've tried worming them in the past and thats worked really well. Is Prazaquantil easily available over there? Should sort it out if you can get it into a quarantine tank.

Failing that you need to get it onto mysis shrimp really. Of the foods you are feeding there is nothing with a very high protein or far content so you really need to be stepping up to the mark a bit more there.

If you think in the wild when they are grazing they'll be taking in loads of other food rather than algae which could be missing from a sterile tank.

Do you run UV?

~Andy

demonsperm · Jun 12, 2008

Try flake and pellet and differant types of frozen. Or just add some GSP. This poor guy was caught in the ocean from its reef im sure and deserves a good try. Also remember to research any purchase before you buy for its feeding needs and effects. Measure 3 times and purchase one time. Please...