Lawnmower Blenny is Starving

[pufferfreak]

I have had this guy about a month now. He is really thin now. he won't eat hair algae, algae waffers, or algae mats. Can you guys hlep me please I don't want to lose him.

 

[goatfish]

I have been having the same problem. Mine has been pretty thin for awhile now. I have tried everything without any succsesful solution. One thing I would try though is Nori from your grocery store. You can find it in the oriental section. Try this soaked in garlic if it doesen't work alone. Just rubberband it to a rock. This didn't work for me but has for other people.

 

[j-cal]

I started noticing the same thing this past week on mine too. Mine is eating flake foods voraciously, but wont pack on pounds, and my other fish all seem fine. :-/
Justin

 

[flamingkingofhe]

it is not an uncommon thing for lmb to starve to death in a home aquarium you need sufficient algae growth in your tank to keep them healthy and if no algae can be provided than my next try would be seaweed sheets from the lfs or nori from the store but i am not a fan of nori just preference if one of the two can not be supplied or the lmb will not eat the nori than i suggest you try and give him back to the lfs or someone who has a sufficient supply of algae growing in there tank flake food and some frozen foods such as spirulina enriched brine imo are just a temporary fix and will not allow the fish to get his proper nutrients even if they contain some sort of algae in them
mine is eating flake but wont pack on the pounds
this is probably because the lmb needs to be grazing on algae all day not just be feed flake once or twice daily
these guys are what i like to call all day grazers

 

[lobstergrabber]

What type of algae specifically does the LMB need to survive? Macro or micro? Just curious if I decide to get one later.
Rich

 

[justinx]

The problem with LMB's is that they have too fast a metabolism to supplement their diet with foods other than natural algae. I had one that I managed to keep very healthy for about 6 months. I then had to cut back the feeding because my hair algae started to grow rampantly. I used both formula one and two frozen foods. He took to them both very readily, and was the first in the tank to get there. Try those out, but bear in mind that this is only a temporary fix. I know that there are those who successfully keep these fish in small tanks, but I would apply the same "rules" to these fish as mandarins and other pod eaters . . . . a big tank with lots of LR is a must.

 

[pufferfreak]

That is very interesting what you said JustinX and it makes perfect sense. They just need their natural food. So what is the best way to capture one of these cool dudes?