Lawnmower Blenny

[wesman42]

I got a lawnmower blenny for my 32 biocube around a month and a half ago. For the first few weeks, I'd see him picking at the algae on the glass, in the aragonite, and on the rocks.

However, it's been 2-3 weeks since I've last seen him out and about. I have a feeling he's either hiding from the new light (radeon xr15)....or he's dead somewhere in a crevice.

I've left nori for him on the glass and it hasn't been touched except for maybe a few nibbles probably by the clownfish....who will literally eat anything from spirulina to krill.

I checked the rear compartments for him too and didn't find anything... although I have no clue how that'd be possible on a biocube 32.

Any ideas? I figured disturbing the rocks/corals would be more of a bad thing since I'm moving at the end of this month with both of my tanks anyway.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Fish tend to disappear without a trace very quickly if they die and are a small size to begin with. Do you have hermit crabs in your clean up crew?

 

[wesman42]

Yes, I have both red and blue hermits in the cube...around 5 of each. The bloom was so bad that I figured I needed as many...in hindsight it was a few too many. Do you think they'd make quick work of a blenny?

 

[BellaD]

I had a Blenny that did the exact same thing. To this day it's still a mystery what happened to him. Never found any signs of a body in the tank or on the floor. I do currently have a Six Line Wrasse that ended up in my overflow box. I think he was after the copepods. Luckily I managed to find him within a day or two and get him back in the tank. I keep a lid on the overflow box now lol

 

[wesman42]

Well that's unfortunate. I guess he's dead in the water heh. Either that or could he have jumped out? Doesn't really seem like the type of fish to do that either lol

 

[nereefpat]

They are definitely jumpers.

Any chance it jumped and then was eaten by a cat or something?

 

[wesman42]

They are definitely jumpers.

Any chance it jumped and then was eaten by a cat or something?

Yes that, unfortunately is possible. I removed the lid after I put the new light on...and we have 2 cats. 1 is declawed and the other not so much. So, the cats stay away from the top of the tank...but I guess I can laugh about it knowing one of them got a pretty tasty snack if he jumped. I'll have to get a glass lid or something.

 

[Ferrell]

Yes that, unfortunately is possible. I removed the lid after I put the new light on...and we have 2 cats. 1 is declawed and the other not so much. So, the cats stay away from the top of the tank...but I guess I can laugh about it knowing one of them got a pretty tasty snack if he jumped. I'll have to get a glass lid or something.

BRS has a nice screen top kit if you’re handy with a tape measure hacksaw and a screen roller. Compared prices and product to hardware store and ordered from @Bulk Reef Supply. Turned out great