Linear Blenny - recent feedback?

[Makers Marc]

Anyone in the past few years kept a Linear Blenny in an SPS Dominant tank? Will the Ecsenius blennies really nip at Acros to the point of demise?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I think its hit or miss whether an individual blenny will be more or less likely to pick at SPS corals when looking for food. I think you can reduce the chance by keeping it well fed and offering nori or some other macroalgae in and around the rock work often.

 

[Makers Marc]

I think its hit or miss whether an individual blenny will be more or less likely to pick at SPS corals when looking for food. I think you can reduce the chance by keeping it well fed and offering nori or some other macroalgae in and around the rock work often.

I know its always dependent in the individual. But id like to know if anyone has actual experience with linear blennies in the recent past.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I know its always dependent in the individual. But id like to know if anyone has actual experience with linear blennies in the recent past.

Mine never picked on corals, only worked on the rocks and glass. I had a hollywood stunner chalice and a couple of birdsnest corals at the time but I don't believe it would have bothered any Acros or Montis. I've had the same results with a bicolor and a tailspot blenny.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I've found linear blennies to be among the most likely Ecsenius species to nip at sps, more so than stigmatura and bicolor for sure.

 

[mort]

I've found linear blennies to be among the most likely Ecsenius species to nip at sps, more so than stigmatura and bicolor for sure.

This is the same for me. I've kept stigmatura with most corals and never had a problem but my linear is a different matter. I've had it a few years and saw the odd pick here and there from it but as it grew and matured it went to town on any acro I had (killing a fist sized tricolour and a couple of bali slimers and other small colonies), my Montipora also developed white patches where the nipping took place but hung on in there. This happened when I was ill so the tank was neglected a little and I thought it was a water quality problem even though the readings were fine. I then saw the little chap having a go, caught it in its favourite barnacle and moved it to my softy/lps tank. The corals recovered quickly and apart from a war coral (that I had to move to the sps tank) it's doesn't do any damage in the new tank.
so for me acropora and montipora were the problem, stylophora and hysterix were fine or they grew so fast that I didn't notice.

 

[Makers Marc]

Very helpful everyone. Right now he is in my QT but ill be exchanging him for another better alternative.