Black Sailfin/Combtooth Blenny ??

[Vauche]

It is time to consider more fish for my tank, currently housing only 2 Ocellaris, snails and cleaner shrimp, 4 corals (GSP, Birds nest, Kenya, Zoa). Tank is a little over 4mo old.

I like both the Black Sailfin and the Combtooth Blennies and would like one or the other not both, however I have a concern with them.

My 1st choice would be the Sailfin however on the description on Liveaquaria it says it is an obligate microalgea eater. My concern is currently the tank as little microalgea, diatoms and cyano yes, little green micro not much. I understand what obligate means but so what options are available to supplement what the tank has in this area?

Second, the combtooth, according to the description on Liveaquaria doesn't suffer from this restriction, no obligate mentioned, is this the case? I understand as an herbivore it needs algea but is it necessary to have micro or will macroalgea allow this fish to flourish?

Any info, as always, greatly appreciated.

 

[Sk8r]

You may be able to supplement with Formula 2 or spirulina. I should try giving some to my starry blenny (a combtooth) and see what his reaction is.

 

[Vauche]

Thank Sk8r, appreciate the info and possibility.

 

[Sk8r]

Well, I thought I had some in the fridge, but no go. I'd recommend trying it or asking the fish store to do so before purchase. It's got very stinky algae (spirulina) and squid, really gets attention from the algae eaters.

 

[abulgin]

I had one (may still have one) before he dove into my sump. He was my favorite fish and ate everything I put in the tank, in addition to the algae that grew on the tank.

 

[Vauche]

That's good to know, my concern obviously is starving the fish, so I suppose my best strategy will be to see that it is eating a variety of items at the store. The down side, the closest store is 3hrs away.

 

[abulgin]

These fish are pretty hardy. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Mine had a big fat belly--he literally ate everything. I am so sad to have lost him--he was beautiful with a lot of personality. I have torn my sump apart looking for him (he got caught in my overflow and when I tried to net him out, he jumped over my overflow filter sponge and down the log flume into the sump).

Of course, it's nice to see the fish eat at the LFS, but if it's eating one thing it likely is going to eat, or will learn to eat, almost anything. These fish are relatively cheap (should be $30 or less), so if you buy one and it doesn't make it, it's not a huge loss--and it's not like it was going to fare any better in someone else's tank.