Lawnmower blenny aggression towards yellow watchman goby

Impala67 · Feb 17, 2022

Hey guys I have a 55 gallon reef tank, I have two clowns a lawnmower blenny and a new as of today yellow watchman goby. The goby is about 1 inch and the blenny is about 4 inches and there is some very tight tension in the tank. The lawnmower blenny keeps chasing the goby around and around and trying to buy him I don’t want to separate them but somethings got to give. I would have thought a 55 would have been big enough for the two of them. Should I buy another one and pair them up? I also want to buy a pistol shrimp would this help any or make it worse?

Lasse · Feb 18, 2022

If you can isolate the lawnmower blenny in an acclimation tank/box (or in the sump) for a week or two - it may get better. In this case -IMO - it is not the volume thats matter - it is the area of the bottom because both are bottom dwellers. I alway acclimate my newcomers in my refugium for 1 to 2 weeks before introduction into the DT. It could be wise to use an acclimation box if you do not have an refugium. In this case - with both in the tank - IMO - it is better to move the dominating fish and let the newcomer establish him/herself

sincerely Lasse

Impala67 · Feb 18, 2022

Lasse said:
If you can isolate the lawnmower blenny in an acclimation tank/box (or in the sump) for a week or two - it may get better. In this case -IMO - it is not the volume thats matter - it is the area of the bottom because both are bottom dwellers. I alway acclimate my newcomers in my refugium for 1 to 2 weeks before introduction into the DT. It could be wise to use an acclimation box if you do not have an refugium. In this case - with both in the tank - IMO - it is better to move the dominating fish and let the newcomer establish him/herself

sincerely Lasse

See that’s also another issue how do I get the lmb out of the tank and into the sump?