Feeding a shy blenny

[Sonatine]

I have had a bicolor blenny in my 32.5gal since Thursday, and it's still terribly shy. It pulls away into its cave if it sees me anywhere near the tank (this has improved a little in the last few days, but it's still very skittish). I've only seen it leave a few times, and even then it goes straight to another cave.

It is eating, at least a little. But the only way it is willing to eat is by snatching whatever food floats by its current burrow. Depending on which cave it's in, it can be a real challenge to get food to float by just right to temp it, and only after I've moved back far enough that it won't notice me. So far it's snagged mysis BBS and LRS reef frenzy, but usually only a few morsels per feeding. I tried algae pellets, but I wasn't able to get them to sink near its cave without getting my hand too close (in which case it will stay hidden and ignore food), so they just became snail food.

There is some algae growth in my tank, and it only has one margarita snail to compete with, but unless it leaves its cave to pick at rocks when the lights are out and I'm in bed, I don't think it's eating any. I want to get some nori but I haven't found any without a bunch of seasoning yet.

My clowns were shy about eating for a day or two, but not this long, and this blenny didn't act particularly scared of humans at the LFS, so I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong, or if it just needs more time to adjust. My current strategy of "overfeed and hope it gets enough" isn't one I'd like to continue for very long.

Thanks.

 

[Rtaylor]

Give it more time and don’t worry about it so much. The hungrier it gets the further it will venture out. So just feed like normal.

 

[Sonatine]

Give it more time and don’t worry about it so much. The hungrier it gets the further it will venture out. So just feed like normal.

Thanks, I thought that might be the case. After writing this and just watching it, I've noticed it's already hanging out longer and switching caves more, and even being a jerk to the nassarius snails by knocking them off of the rocks (I feel bad for them but it was pretty funny). I just worry a lot haha.

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

First post, also new here and to reefing. I have a bicolor blenny as well and his behavior was exactly as you described when I first plopped him into the tank 2 weeks ago. Today he came right up to the flipper magnifying glass and looked at me. I moved the flipper and put my finger to the glass and he didn't flinch or move. I say just give him another week to adjust.

 

[jabberwock]

I agree that things will get better, but I had an extreme case where a Yellow Watchman Goby was seriously harassed by 2 clownfish. I found some 18 inch plastic "balloon sticks" at Publix. I stuck a plastic syringe on one end and charged them up with thawed out mysis, and I was able to inject food right into the fishes cave. It did not help with the shyness, but kept the YWG alive until I could rehome the clowns.

 

[ScottJ]

Thanks, I thought that might be the case. After writing this and just watching it, I've noticed it's already hanging out longer and switching caves more, and even being a jerk to the nassarius snails by knocking them off of the rocks (I feel bad for them but it was pretty funny). I just worry a lot haha.

I just got a new tailspot blenny and it took him a good two weeks to be out and about. Today was the first time he started to eat some nori, and he just is starting to come up to the pipette at feeding time. He's still a bit shy, but coming along. Give it time.

 

[Sonatine]

Thanks for all the responses! It sounds like blennies are just shyer than clowns, which are my only frame of reference. I don't think the clowns are bullying it; I've not seen them go near the blenny intentionally (and sometimes I'm sneaky and watch the tank when the clowns can't see me), and it most of its favorite caves aren't in the clowns' corner. When it slithers over the rocks near them they flee and do what I can only describe as "outraged wiggling" at the top of the tank for a few moments until everyone settles but otherwise there's been no interaction.

I'll wait for it to come out of its shell. Then hopefully it will get a start on helping out with the algae, my margarita snail could use an assitant

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

I do also have a purple firefish in the tank. When I plopped him in ( i did acclimate) the blenny was poppin out of his cave mouth wide open going to bite him, but pulled away at the last second. It was absolutely adorable to see him get all angry and then skulk away. They are friends now. The Blenny def has the most personality of my tank.