Fish of the week: The Lawnmower Blenny

ryebread

ryebread

Active Member
Salarias fasciatus is commonly reffered to as many names: Sailfin Blenny, Jeweled Blenny, Rockskipper Blenny, Algae Blenny, etc..
I would have to say that the most common name given would be the Lawnmower Blenny.
Lawnmower Blennies span from several different Indo-Pacific areas including: The Red Sea, Ryukyu Islands and even south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.
LAWNMOWER BLENNY STRETCHING OUT
Maximum size is typically 4-6" and common size when purchased is 2-3".
The Lawnmower Blenny is a fish that is full of character and is becoming more and more popular among aquariasts for its effectiveness with controlling algae. LMBs are extremely active herbivores that are well known for skipping from rock to rock and "grazing" all day long. The LMB will bang its head back and fourth eating diatoms off of the glass leaving only "lipstick" marks behind. Some have experienced very tame LMBs actually eating right out of your hand.......one of the coolest things that I have witnessed personally.
SMIRK OF THE BLENNY
LMBs are actually very docile creatures as long as their space or territory is not invaded. They are quite aggresive in most cases toward other LMBs and Blennies with similar body shapes. This makes breeding the LMB extremely hard in captivity.
LMBs are considered a reef-safe fish and are recommended as long as an alternative diet can be obtained. It will feed primarily on certain types of algae such as: Filamentous, diatoms, some micros, as well as short hair algae. LMBs will most likely need to be acclimated to other food sources as there is usually a limited supply of what they will eat "growing" in the tank. Nori, Brine shrimp, and many flake foods are often taken to by LMBs if the fish can be enticed to eat them. Once the LMB has taken to alternative food sources.......they can be quite hearty eaters.
Note: The Lawnmower Blenny is not known for keeping hair algae under control. Once the hair algae reaches a certain length.......the blenny no longer wants to trim it. LMBs are also not known for cleaning up any sort of slime algaes.
Note #2: It is fairly important to entice the LMBs to adjust to prepared foods. LMBs often die in aquariums due to the lack of certain algaes that the fish needs to survive.
Disease susceptability would have to rate pretty low for this very hardy species. Long term health may depend on the acclimation process of artificial or prepared feedings.
This fish is without a doubt my favorite fish in the tank!
LMB HIDING IN A HAMMER
:)
 
fshhub

fshhub

Active Member
It is very fun to watch them skiping around, leaving lip prints ont he glass, ours alos likes to situp perched ont he power head output nozzles and watch you.
They are also masters of disguise, I can remmeber a few times when we first got it and it wanted to play hidenseek with us for a good half hour or so, RIGHT IN PLAIN SITE. Once we got used to it, it was easier to find, but if you don't know they can be difficult to find.
As for the diet, They are strict herbivores. so i could see why it may be difficult to keep them alive for some, if they do not have adequate algae growth(other than hair, they do NOT like hair algae over about 1/4 inch in length, just guesstimating). We also suppliment feed ours with nori, and algae wafers. Great, docile cool fish(except towards other blennies like themselves) and a great addition to any tank, esp a smaller one that should not house a tang. In fact, the only aggression we have seen, is when the tang picks on it(I believe b/c of food), and then it does not get real violent, but lets the tang know he aint gonna take no guff.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Can anyone give some info about acclimating the lawnmower to prepared foods? I've seen so many folks here in trouble with thier lawnmower, which have starved to death. What type tank recommendations would you make, and are there any tricks to acclimating to prepared foods?
 
ryebread

ryebread

Active Member
The method that has worked for me is using garlic.
First- I would start out by mixing some algae pellets/flakes/sheets in with some garlic extract. I have had good luck with Kent's Garlic Xtreme and would recommend it. The garlic extract simply adds a more enticing appeal to certain foods and can also aid in building up the fishes imune system.
Second- Once you have your LMB taking to the garlic soaked algae mix, you should try to start mixing in small amounts of flake foods or frozen brine shrimp. As you are preparing the food mix and putting it in the tank, the LMB may accidentally grab pieces of other types of food mixed in with the normal agaes that it likes. Once the fish realizes that the prepared foods are pretty decent.......it may take to them.
Not everyone has success with acclimating LMBs to prepared foods but, it is certainly worth trying. As Beth has mentioned, far too many of these wonderful fish die in captivity due to the lack of care given........this is not saying that LMBs are hard to keep but, they do need a little bit of TLC. :D
 
ekclark

ekclark

Member
First off--congrats Rye!!!
Second, my LMB eats algae pellets, chopped shrimp, salmon, and even flake. He eats like a pig. I enjoy this litttle guy and I did not do anything special to get him to eat. I guess I was just lucky.
 
stacyt

stacyt

Active Member
I've had my lawnmower for about 6 months. He's been a really hardy fish, but I plan to get rid of him soon. The problem I've had with him is that he likes to perch on/in the corals causing them to close all the time. He's never really bothered any of the other fish, and does a great job keeping the algae in check.
 
kev

kev

Member
My lawnmower blenny stays soo fat all the time, he has PLENTY of hair algae to grub down on. I use conditioned tap water in my tank thats why I have an algae problem, but my little lawnmower sure is happy! I had another one in the past for about a year and he jumped out of my tank! So for all you lawnmower keepers out there I would make sure that your tank is covered. Other than the jumping out of the tank, they're a great fish to have. The one I have now is about 2'' long and its my fav fish I have. :D
 
chinnyr

chinnyr

Member
Mine was very shy for the first few months,always hiding.Then one day he just started hanging out not afraid of a thing.Also he shares the tank with a bicolor blennie and they will sometimes perch on the same rock together.He only showed agression to the hawkfish I recently removed.he would swim over and nudge him out of his territory.He would also turn almost all black in color when pissed off at the hawk.He seems to get enough to eat,and I have had him for almost a year.I will have to try the garlic thing because he now has pretty much grazed over the tank.
 
blueface

blueface

Member
I purchased one from my LFS because they said it would eat my hair algae. Not true, it only ate the algae from the glass. I never had luck w/ alternative foods. Sadly he only lived a couple of months. He slowly starved to death.
 
wrassecal

wrassecal

Active Member
He's so ugly he's cute:D Would one be a good addition for my 135 reef. I'm trying to make my list of new fish since now I can get more:) :) :)
 
kev

kev

Member
Just Curious! How long is the Lawnmower Blenny going to be the Fish of the Week??? I think its been the fish of the week for a few weeks now! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top