lawnmower blennies

[candycane]

I was thinking of ordering some Lawnmower blennies in, however I don't know about their temperment. I have read in some places that they will eat small polyp corals and clam mantles (or atleast irritate them). Anyone else ever had this problem? Because I have never seen it, but most of the tanks have one or the other in them.

 

[big]

The only thing mine ever eats is "green's" My Fav. Fish by far!!
Watch out thought, more than 1 may go hungry unless its a real big tank.

 

[yosemite sam]

I've never heard of or seen a lawnmower blenny eating polyps or clam mantles, but I guess it's always possible. I've kept a few over the years with no problems. How many are you ordering? They're pretty peaceful fish, but are territorial, and it's not a good idea to have more than one in the same tank.

 

[candycane]

I am ordering about 10 of them for the store. But I want to get one for my tank to see of they eat Cladophora. THAT is a horrible algae and I would be VERY surprised if anything ate it.

 

[snapperboy]

i wouldn't add more than 1 into the same tank, i wittnessed my lfs add a lawnmower to their DT b/c they hadnt seen the original for over a week. Within minutes the original LMB came out from behind the back of the rocks and killed the newcomer. (180G tank)

 

[murph145]

i have a LMB in my 180 qand i feel that with anything less than around 150lbs of LR ur risking starvation of the fish....
like mandarin dragonets these guys rarely eat frozen foods....
mine only eats from the rocks but i have about 200-250lbs LR to keep him full

 

[emeralcrab]

I have 2 of them, 1 in a 55, 1 in a 150 and they eat anything, love frozen shimp, krill, nori, flake, mine eat anything that my other fish eat. Not the best at keeping hair algae down tho. Does eat on it, but not a lot. I love them. I also have a tail spot blennie that will go in my 30 reef, he eats anything also. I haven't seen the LMB eat any of my polpys or any corals of any kind. I love them.

 

[big]

I also agree with the Lawnmower needing lots of LR to graze on. I have just over 100 lbs. and I still find myself needing to supplement his algae requirements..Warren

 

[rainmaker6]

My lawnmower will eat anything that gets in front of him. Must agree that he does not eat much hair algae, but likes to nibble.

 

[reefkprz]

my algae blennie will eat frozen food straight off the cube out of my fingers while I'm swishing it artound to disentegrate it into my tank. he eats flakes too, he hasnt toutched my clam, or any of my corals. he does irritate some by Perching on them from time to time. the only thing I would say is be wary once established in a tank any new comers could have a rough time of it my blenny thinks the whole reef is his when I introduced my tomatoe clowns I was worried because the confrontation was pretty horrific and the clown got several bites from it. so I did what any good person would ripped the whole tank apart and re aranged it so they all had to reestablish territories. not fun. but worth it.

 

[jonk520c]

Originally Posted by candycane
I was thinking of ordering some Lawnmower blennies in, however I don't know about their temperment. I have read in some places that they will eat small polyp corals and clam mantles (or atleast irritate them). Anyone else ever had this problem? Because I have never seen it, but most of the tanks have one or the other in them.
I just got one of these guys. I think it is the brother of the one in the picture.
Mine is very shy but is eating lots of green stuff and krill, and brine shrimp.
they like to hide and dig in sand.

 

[reefkprz]

never seen any dig in the sand, (not saying it cant happen) but if hes rubbing on the sand it sounds like a parasite or something, I would look him over real good. Only had about 200 or so blennies over the course of my pet store carreer (now I'm a carpenter weird aint it) but I never saw any play in the sand only eat munch at the hair algae growing on it.

 

[emeralcrab]

My lawnmowers never dig in the sand, but my tail spot blenny acts like a jaw fish, it has quite the cave dug out under some clove polyps, backs in it's hole like a jaw fish, it is always spitting sand out rearranging his home. Boy is he going to be surprised when he goes out of QT and into 30 reef, he'll have to start all over again. Eats anything also by the way.