Algea Blenny

cincyfishguy · Nov 2, 2017

What are some unusual algae blennies that you've had success with? I'm looking to add a blenny to my 60g. I really like the personality of the algae blenny i.e. starry, lawnmower type blennies. I have recently tried the segmented sailfin blenny. I've tried two and neither would eat. Got one from liveaquaria and the other from bluezoo aquatics. The one from bluezoo disappeared within a couple days. The one from liveaquaria lasted a couple weeks but again never ate that i saw. I offered nori every couple days and feed LRS daily. I'd like them to stay on the smaller side since he'll be going into a 60.

Thanks!

nautical_nathaniel · Nov 2, 2017

There's a bunch of less common combtooth or similar style blennies that you can try. I'll list off a few, just be aware that some of these may be a bit aggressive and/or seasonal in availability.

Red-lip Blenny
Tribal Blenny
Ember Blenny
Orange Spotted Blenny
Segmented Blenny
Linear Blenny
Firetail/ Flame Tail Blenny (Similar to the Bi-Color Blenny but a bit stockier, tail is more of a yellow color and fringes the fins rather than the entire tail like a bi-color)
Golden Tiger Blenny
Two-Spot Blenny

mta_morrow · Nov 2, 2017

I had a flametail blenny for 2 years. Sold him a couple weeks ago due to shutting down for a move. Ate everything I put in the tank and loved nori. Occasionally picked at algae growing on the back wall but that was it.

Maritimer · Nov 2, 2017

I've got a starry and an orange-spot in my 220 - they're not generally aggressive, except with one another - I've witnessed the occasional dust-up. (That having been said, the orange-spot raced out of his lair and attacked my pinky finger earlier today - he may have thought it was another orange-spot!) Both spend a great part of their days banging away at algae, whether on the rocks, the glass or a clip. Both are nearly obese, because I've got algae. The orange-spot tends to stay a little lower on the rocks than the starry does, and my midas blenny takes over above the rocks. The orange-spot, and to a lesser extent, the starry, are both on what I'd consider the larger side for a 60, but I think a tailspot blenny would be awesome in that tank . . .

~Bruce

3mm3 · Nov 2, 2017

I used to own an ember blenny. It was deathly looking when I found it at a fish store. I rescued him and got it back to good health. Great fish. Loved the colors and personality. Sold him when I made a very long distant move and regret it to this day.

Crashjack · Nov 2, 2017

I have a lawnmower blenny (the true algae blenny). Oddly, it doesn't get excited about nori, though he eats it. That said, a LMB will make your tank devoid of any and all nuisance algae. I have a lot of rock in a 6'x2'x19" tank and worry about him starving because I see zero algae. That said, he is as fat as a pig.