Lawnmower Starving

[tag]

About a month ago. I bought a Lawnmower Blenny very healthy (Fat )and active. Up until a few days ago, he spent alot of time grazing. I recently discovered that he is getting very thin and not active at all. The tank he was in was a 55 gallon reef with alot algae. I recently moved him to quarantine tank with a large piece of algae ridden live rock and a nori seaweed sheet in hopes to get him to eat. I have not noticed any harassment from the othe tankmates.
Water Parameters: ph 8.3, SG 1.22, trates 0, trites 0, ammonia-0.
Tankmates:2 perc clowns, 1 blue damsel, 2 flame scallops, 1 peppermint shrimp, 1 coral banded shrimp, 1 orange linkia star, snails, hermit crabs and various hard and soft corals. If anyone has any ideas I really would appreciate it. I really doubt he will live more than another day or so. The other fish are doing well and are not showing any signs of sickness or stress.

 

[buzz]

Don't count on grazing as the only means of food. Mine eats a variety of food...brine shrimp, flake food, etc. Try to mix it up a little.

 

[tag]

Thanks, I will try that also. I was told that they are strictly grazers and would not eat flake or brine shrimp. It is worth a shot.

 

[spicyballs]

mine also chases those sinking marine pellets..

 

[tag]

Thanks, I will try that also. I was told that they are strictly grazers and would not eat flake or brine shrimp. It is worth a shot.

 

[spicyballs]

def grazers... mine grazes alll the time... loves to graze on the glass and leave it's lip marks all around.. i'm trying to train it to wipe it's lip marks off the glass next time.

 

[beth]

How long have you lawnmower owners had the lawnmowers in your tank??

 

[spicyballs]

219 days... (around 7 months).. i keep a track of my fish in my access database... hehe. i noe i'm weird.. i just like to see how well i'm doing and to track other stuff... like coral props and what not.. my saltwater tank is about a year old..

 

[badkharma]

My LMB used to just graze on the seaweed selects I put out there, but a week after I got him he began attacking the Spectra+A pellets and eventually the frozen brine/mysis/angel sponge (!), and Formula two. He eats everything. I'd vary his diet and don't count on him sustisting just on grazing.

 

[buzz]

I've had mine for well over a year, and it is fat as a cow. Just like Badkharma, mine grew to love foods of any type.

 

[tag]

It sounds like lawnmowers are easy to keep fed. Unfortunately mine died today. I am not sure what happened. In the month that I had him he did not show any interest in brine,mysis or flakes. It's possible there was a parasite or disease that was not visible. Thanks for the replies..

 

[beth]

Tag, they are not at all easy to feed. In fact, most hobbyists who acquire lawnmowers, unfortunately find that their fish ends in the same way as yours. That is why I questioned the hobbyists above. These fish commonly starve to death. Hobbyists enthusiiastically introduce this fish to their aquaria to solve an algae problem, and, while the lawnmower does do that, it will sooon begin to show symptoms of failure due to lack of adequate food.
This fish requires a larger, well-established tank with support systems such as an algae refudgium to supplement food. Sorry that you lost the fish.

 

[badkharma]

Beth, the LMB is from what I've heard, considered one of the hardiest fishes. My experience with my LMB would attest to that. I disagree that one should get a LMB to solve an algae problem - I have heard of many cases where they do not eat the algae. But in terms of adapting to other food, mine was eating the pellets/flakes almost right after I got him. Now that I'm using more frozen food, he eats all of that too along with the seaweed selects. I've had him for almost a year. He was one of the first fishes I had and has survived a lot before I knew what I know now about water quality, etc. Maybe my case is a rarity, but everyone I've talked to and all the LFS/websites/books (including Fenner's) I've seen, the LMB is considered very hardy.

 

[spicyballs]

Originally posted by Beth
Tag, they are not at all easy to feed. In fact, most hobbyists who acquire lawnmowers, unfortunately find that their fish ends in the same way as yours. That is why I questioned the hobbyists above. These fish commonly starve to death. Hobbyists enthusiiastically introduce this fish to their aquaria to solve an algae problem, and, while the lawnmower does do that, it will sooon begin to show symptoms of failure due to lack of adequate food.
This fish requires a larger, well-established tank with support systems such as an algae refudgium to supplement food. Sorry that you lost the fish.
Without a doubt, a lot of marine fish are "hard to keep" as are aquariums can not nearly replicate the abundance of food types they would come across in nature.. in nature, they are supplied a food source 24 hours a day.. some of these fish, like the LMB have learned to adapt and eat foods they would normally not eat in the wild.. like non-vegetable matter... i am one of lucky ones where my lmb has adapted to feed on other foods besides the algae that accumulates on my aquarium glass and rocks.. but i def try to keep a majority of it's diet on seaweed.. this is actually my second lmb and has been with me for a 7 months... hoping it becomes years.. my first was DOA...