Lawnmower blenny will not eat in QT.

Miller535 · May 10, 2020

I have a lawnmower blenny in QT, he has been in there for for most of yesterday and today. He will not eat. I offered him nori a few times, algae pellets, and even frozen brine gut loaded with algae. I don't get it. I have had 2 blennies before they were pigs and ate everything and anything. What should I try?

Tank was started the day before with turbo start and a sponge filter that had been in my sump for a few days. Ammonia badge shows no ammonia.

TriggerFinger · May 10, 2020

It might still be a little nervous. Mine took 5 or 6 days to eat and I saw him eat at the store before bringing him home. My maroon clown went 8 days before she ate, was received via UPS

Dipan Desai · May 10, 2020

Have your tried Hikari Tropical Algae Wafers for Bottom Feeding Herbivorous Fish. Some fish just seem to not want to eat for various reasons.

AbjectMaelstroM · May 10, 2020

Are you medicating? If not then just observe for a while, he might still be spooked. If you're medicating, watch him and if he doesn't eat in 5-7 days, may want to consider stopping meds (do water changes to get rid of meds or put in a fresh QT) and see if you can get him eating.

Cell · May 10, 2020

Have you tried Hikari Seaweed Extreme sinking pellets?

Mr.Z · May 10, 2020

Might be worth testing ammonia rather than entirely relying on the badge. My badge will read zero when my ammonia is closer to 1.0.

Mr.Z · May 10, 2020

Mr.Z said:
Might be worth testing ammonia rather than entirely relying on the badge. Especially considering the tank wasn’t cycled.

My badge will read zero when my ammonia is closer to 1.0.

Miller535 · May 10, 2020

Dipan Desai said:
Have your tried Hikari Tropical Algae Wafers for Bottom Feeding Herbivorous Fish. Some fish just seem to not want to eat for various reasons.

I have not

Miller535 · May 10, 2020

AbjectMaelstroM said:
Are you medicating? If not then just observe for a while, he might still be spooked. If you're medicating, watch him and if he doesn't eat in 5-7 days, may want to consider stopping meds (do water changes to get rid of meds or put in a fresh QT) and see if you can get him eating.

No meds yet. Wanted to get him eating first

Miller535 · May 10, 2020

Mr.Z said:
Might be worth testing ammonia rather than entirely relying on the badge. My badge will read zero when my ammonia is closer to 1.0.

Yeah. I'll have to try and find my ammonia test

AbjectMaelstroM · May 10, 2020

Mr.Z said:
Might be worth testing ammonia rather than entirely relying on the badge. My badge will read zero when my ammonia is closer to 1.0.

Depending on the test kit, it may be measuring total ammonia vs the badge which reads free ammonia (toxic).

Miller535 · May 10, 2020

I can not seem to find my red sea ammonia test kit. In the meantime while I look, I did about a 50 percent water change. Just to be safe

Mr.Z · May 10, 2020

AbjectMaelstroM said:
Depending on the test kit, it may be measuring total ammonia vs the badge which reads free ammonia (toxic).

I use Red Sea. I’ve seeded my QT with ceramic media that was in my DT for months and Microbacter Start XLM and the QT still hasn’t fully cycled after 3 weeks (waiting for it to process 2.0 ammonia in 24 hours).

Miller535 · May 10, 2020

I found a poly-filter, says it removes ammonia and will turn yellow in the presence of ammonia. Between that and the large water change.

dadnjesse · May 10, 2020

My lawnmower Blenny will only eat Nori that I get from the grocery store. He won't eat mysis or flakes or pellets. He also won't eat the nori from fish stores either.

Miller535 · May 10, 2020

dadnjesse said:
My lawnmower Blenny will only eat Nori that I get from the grocery store. He won't eat mysis or flakes or pellets. He also won't eat the nori from fish stores either.

What kind of nori are you getting from the grocery store? Can't say I've seen nori. Unless you mean a Asian store.

FLReef32043 · May 10, 2020

I had the same concern with my LMB not eating. To the extent that I wrote to Live Aquaria to see what they fed them. However, literally that same day he started eating and now he is a pig. Eats the seaweed I put in as well as chasing down mysis.

Give it a little bit of time.

Tastee · May 11, 2020

When I had my LMB in QT a few weeks ago he wasn’t eating much so I cut strips of Nori and put them in a suction cup clip pushed down to the bottom of the tank. He soon started to eat that so I kept it up to him whilst in QT (only 11 days). After going into the new DT he is happy, eating the dying GHA and going after frozen food and pellets quite happily. Initially shy but coming out of his shell now.

Exib · May 11, 2020

I have one in my tank for about 4 weeks he also would not eat, tried the below started eating Seaweed extreme straight away, give them a try

Chrille26 · May 11, 2020

I have never seen my Lawnmower blenny take any kind of prepared food or pellets, he exclusively graze algae on rocks, glass and pump. I think Nori or some type of live algae is your best bet if hes picky.