lawnmower blenny

[twobitt]

Are a lawnmower and rock blenny the same fish or are they different? I'm looking to get something to eat up some excess green hair algae and I've heard a lawnmower will do the trick. I went to the lfs and all they had was a rock blenny then when I asked he said it is basically the same but not sure if he's just trying to sell a fish or what. Also a little concerned that he may fight with my yellow watchman goby. The watchman is very docile and hardly ever comes out of his little hiding spot.

 

[sepulatian]

They are the same fish. They are Salarias fasciatus Known as Lawnmower Blennie, but also called a Jeweled Rockskipper, Jeweled Blennie, or Rock Blennie. What sized tank do you have? They are known to fight with other blennies. For hair algae, pick up a mexican turbo snail.

 

[twobitt]

I have a 60 gallon tank and for some reason I can't keep the snails alive in my tank. I had a couple of them for 6 months or more and they ended up dying and since then I've bought 3 or 4 more to try and help the algae problem and they have all died within a couple of days. Not sure why everything else is healthy and happy water parameters are always great except for phosphate which was a little high but better now that I have been treating for it.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Twobitt
I have a 60 gallon tank and for some reason I can't keep the snails alive in my tank. I had a couple of them for 6 months or more and they ended up dying and since then I've bought 3 or 4 more to try and help the algae problem and they have all died within a couple of days. Not sure why everything else is healthy and happy water parameters are always great except for phosphate which was a little high but better now that I have been treating for it.
How do you acclimate the snails and what is your SG? Inverts need an SG of 1.025-1.026 and should be drip acclimated for 3-4 hrs.

 

[twobitt]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
How do you acclimate the snails and what is your SG? Inverts need an SG of 1.025-1.026 and should be drip acclimated for 3-4 hrs.
It may be the SG I keep it around 1.023-1.024. I acclimate any new livestock pretty carefully. I don't use the drip method but I've had really good success with the method I do use and do take about 3 hours doing it. They all seem to be fine for a couple days before passing so I don't think it's stress from acclimation. The SG makes more sense to me. Although I have alot of inverts in the tank and they are all thriving. I even have what I think are baby snails recently. Still too small to know for sure.

 

[slomo]

do you have any hermits? mine like snails

 

[twobitt]

yes I have small hermits but I don't think that is the problem. Usually hermits just go after the snails for their shells and these snails are about a thousand times the size of the hermit crabs.