FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I dont have one but I have a friend that does and I just wondered has anyone ever had problems feeding a lawnmower blenny and what did they eat. I have a black sailfin blenny that eats but I dont buy any fish that I dont see eating at the LFS. The problem with the lawnmower blenny is that people buy them to eat nuisance algea but once it runs out the fish ends up starving to death because it wont eat prepared foods. Anybody have any ideas that have worked for you?

My experience with them is only at the LFS where I've only seen one or two that hasn't taken prepared foods. They weren't doing well from the start though. I never knew this was a problem.

They seem to take anything that isn't floating. Pellets, mysis, brine, chopped krill, formula two.....

For any fish that isn't eating I usually try adding a garlic extract to frozen food. It seems to be an appetite stimulant. For these guys in particular, nori, or dried seaweed, would probably be accepted. If all else fails, go the route of live brine for a while and wean off of that.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

The one I had was doing fine eating what little algae was in the tank and being supplemented with the dried algae/see weed sheets rubber-banded to a rock. Has your friend tried those?

I kept him for almost 6 months and just recently turned him in when I got my flame angel. (it's only a 30 gal n I didn't want them competing for food) Until then he was doing fine.

Present: L183, L114, L330, LDA33, L059, L340, L136, L399, Clown, Whip Tail

Past: L001, L239, L200, L134, L030, L110, L204, L260, LDA08, L226, Ancistrs sp3 albino as well as calico, L187 (sp2), Common Hypostomus punctatus

I think he has tried that as far as the dried seaweed but I`ll get him to try it longer. Thanks for the responses.

I've been told a 55g minimum for these fish because of the problems with feeding them. Although most people have said their blenny will eat some nori clipped low on the side of the tank or dried seaweed in flake form sprinkled on the rocks.

He has a 75 gallon tank so we are OK on the size, even though I have seen places recommend a 30 gallon tank. I more tend to lean with you on a bigger tank. Thanks for the response.

One of my friends has one in his 20 gal long.

The thing prefers prepared foods (particularly meaty things... he'll even chase live feeder guppies that he puts in there for his dwarf fuzzy lion) to the point where he'll avoid eating algae unless he isn't fed.

Once they get settled into the tank and get comfy they're usually rather hearty eaters, IME.