Trying to catch a lawnmower blenny

[Impala67]

So I’ve had a long day/night my lawnmower blenny was harassing my clowns all night chasing them around the tank and everything. So this morning everyone was fine and happy so I fed them. Well about an hour later I came back and the female was acting very strange, she kept swimming side to side like she was looking for something well the male was no where to be seen. I finally found him curled up on the floor, now I know what your thinking he just jumped out well not exactly there were bit marks all over him and his tail was missing!!! I put two and two together and now I’m trying to catch the blenny. He keeps hiding in the rocks and I really don’t want to tear apart my aquascape but if I have to. Any suggestions would be fantastic thank you!!

 

[Karen00]

I have nothing to offer for catching fish. I just wanted to say I'm so sorry for your loss! I've read recently they can harrass but I haven't heard of what you just experienced. That's a bit shocking. :-( I know others will chime in with things that have worked for them.

 

[Tompickles]

I’ve had luck siphoning blennys out. Just use a large enough hose that the fish won’t get stuck and hurt I used a 1” hose

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I’ve had a long day/night my lawnmower blenny was harassing my clowns all night chasing them around the tank and everything. So this morning everyone was fine and happy so I fed them. Well about an hour later I came back and the female was acting very strange, she kept swimming side to side like she was looking for something well the male was no where to be seen. I finally found him curled up on the floor, now I know what your thinking he just jumped out well not exactly there were bit marks all over him and his tail was missing!!! I put two and two together and now I’m trying to catch the blenny. He keeps hiding in the rocks and I really don’t want to tear apart my aquascape but if I have to. Any suggestions would be fantastic thank you!!

Fish trap is best bet opposed to pulling all rock which will hide well within a rock
Bait with algae sheet or pellet food and allow it to go and eat and get comfy. At third feeding prepare to release door when it goes in

 

[Impala67]

I’ve had luck siphoning blennys out. Just use a large enough hose that the fish won’t get stuck and hurt I used a 1” hose

The bad part is he’s about 5 to 6 inches long which is huge I would need an 2 inch house and that’s not happening lol

 

[Impala67]

I have nothing to offer for catching fish. I just wanted to say I'm so sorry for your loss! I've read recently they can harrass but I haven't heard of what you just experienced. That's a bit shocking. :-( I know others will chime in with things that have worked for them.

I appreciate it it’s really sad because the two clowns have been together since birth and they have had several batches of kids and she keeps looking for him it’s very sad

 

[Impala67]

Fish trap is best bet opposed to pulling all rock which will hide well within a rock
Bait with algae sheet or pellet food and allow it to go and eat and get comfy. At third feeding prepare to release door when it goes in

I am trying the old cut a water bottle trick so I’m hoping that works. What kind of other traps are there?

 

[damsels are not mean]

On a blenny a bottle trap might work

cut the lid and reverse it like so and then put it in. Fish can get in but usually can't figure a way out for some reason.

 

[damsels are not mean]

I once got a tang out with a ziploc bag. It took a few days but maybe your luck will be better. Basically I only fed from the bag so he had to come close and eventually just went right in to get first bites in. Then when he was totally comfortable with it I quickly pulled the bag shut and done.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The bad part is he’s about 5 to 6 inches long which is huge I would need an 2 inch house and that’s not happening lol

Other optional is 2 ltr bottle made into a trap

 

[Impala67]

On a blenny a bottle trap might work

cut the lid and reverse it like so and then put it in. Fish can get in but usually can't figure a way out for some reason.

Ya I’ve got a 2 liter bottle that’s clear in there now trying to catch him. He’s very weird he won’t touch algae or veggie flakes or seaweed he really likes omnivore flakes

 

[rmorris_14]

Good luck.. I just had to catch and rehome my lawnmower blenny. We ended up having to remove the top of our aquascape. We weren’t patient enough for a trap though.
!

Hoping for an easy outcome!!!

 

[Impala67]

Other optional is 2 ltr bottle made into a trap

What should I bait it with? Also after I catch him how should I deal with him? As much as I’m mad at him I still like him! But I need another clown stat and I can’t afford to have the same thing happen again how to I get rid of this aggression?

 

[Impala67]

Good luck.. I just had to catch and rehome my lawnmower blenny. We ended up having to remove the top of our aquascape. We weren’t patient enough for a trap though.
!

Hoping for an easy outcome!!!

What happened with yours if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[rmorris_14]

What happened with yours if you don’t mind me asking?

He wasn’t playing nice with others.. he and my watchman goby frequently went toe to toe. He never killed anything but he did take a chunk out of my blennies fin. As much as I was mad at him for being such a jerk, it was hard to let him go. We also bought him because we were told he would go to town on our GHA. He did not and mostly ate film algae and meat, that he would aggressively steal from the watchman. The aggression was the may reason for the rehome though.

 

[Koh23]

I have one huge, about 12-13cm, but he is so far peacefull, not bothering anyone, spend his time with lysmata, sometimes he swims toward my ocelaris, but, quickly changes its mind when he see my hepatus, with identity crisys, he thing that he is ocelaris so spend all of time with them, even sleep together...

So for now, its peace.....

As for catching him, not easy, did it once after removing 90%of rock in previous tank.....

 

[Impala67]

He wasn’t playing nice with others.. he and my watchman goby frequently went toe to toe. He never killed anything but he did take a chunk out of my blennies fin. As much as I was mad at him for being such a jerk, it was hard to let him go. We also bought him because we were told he would go to town on our GHA. He did not and mostly ate film algae and meat, that he would aggressively steal from the watchman. The aggression was the may reason for the rehome though.

Omg same issue I had a watchman goby disappear and then he showed up dead!!! That makes so much sense!! Also he hasn’t touched any algae and only eats flakes or frozen food!!!

 

[vetteguy53081]

What should I bait it with? Also after I catch him how should I deal with him? As much as I’m mad at him I still like him! But I need another clown stat and I can’t afford to have the same thing happen again how to I get rid of this aggression?

Meaty food such as shrimp or krill. Even a small piece of Nori

 

[rmorris_14]

Omg same issue I had a watchman goby disappear and then he showed up dead!!! That makes so much sense!! Also he hasn’t touched any algae and only eats flakes or frozen food!!!

 

[rmorris_14]

If he is hiding IN a rock… I have removed an entire rock with mine still hiding inside. Not sure if that is the situation, but if it is, it might be possible.