Do lawnmower blennies usually change colors like this?

hops523

hops523

Member
This might be a beginner question. I know that some fish do this, and I'm pretty sure it has to do with their mood, but Im not positive. But anyways last night I got a lawnmower blenny. At the lfs he was pretty light in color, he was still light in color in the bag when I was driving home. When we got him it was pretty dark, and the tank lights had gone off. As I was acclimating someone turned the light off in the room where the tank is. When I turned it back on the blenny was very dark. He has stayed this way ever since then, even today when the tank lights are on. Is this a good thing?Or should he be a lighter color? Or does it vary depending on the blenny?
 
nw2salt08

nw2salt08

Active Member
I believe it's normal. I have had my lawnmower blenny for over 6 months and he changes to his surroundings as well. I'll notice that he gets darker when he's going through the rock areas and lighten when he's out on the sand. Your blenny may be feeling a little stressed and territorial in a new place as well. HTH
 
hops523

hops523

Member
Oh ok, thanks for the quick reply. Yep, I figured it had something to do with stress. But he is always hiding in the rocks, and is dark all the time, so that makes sense.
 
nw2salt08

nw2salt08

Active Member
No problem....if he's anything like mine he'll be coming out in no time. Especially when feeding...to snatch up all the goodies being dropped in the tank. lol Rocky cruises the rock a lot and doesn't stay in one place to long. I bet he's just getting used to everything. Give it a few days and you'll probably be surprised that he's calmed down and more intuitive with you. They're cool fish to have.
 
hops523

hops523

Member
Sounds good, that is what Ive heard from these fish. Oh does yours eat the algae in your tank if you have any? Does he eat meaty foods like mysis shrimp, etc? I got some brine shrimp with spirulina, anyone think he'll go for that?
 
lkgrenegade22

lkgrenegade22

Member
Their colors will change depending on lighting and surroundings. They will also eat just about anything you drop in. As far as eating algae...well that's why they are called lawnmowers. The majority of them will absolutely devour all algae.
 
nw2salt08

nw2salt08

Active Member
I used to have a hair algae problem and Rocky devoured it. I use the mysis with spirulina as well and he loves it. He snatches up every morsel that he can get ahold of. If I get any trace of hair algae I'll see it one minute and then the next it's gone and he's sitting right by the rock with a fat belly.
 
hops523

hops523

Member
Ok sounds good. I did feed the brine with spirulina and he ate that. And I do have some hair algae growing on the side of a rock, so hopefully he will go for that next. Thanks for the replies.
EDIT: About 10 minutes after I posted this, I see him swim over to the pile of hair algae,and just sit on it, then starts going at it haha. Now only if they ate bubble algae...
 
hops523

hops523

Member
I actually have 1 baby emerald, who usually just stays in one spot. But maybe I should get 1 or 2 more a little larger in size.
 
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