Blenny life spans?

[running scott]

I love blennies, but my last one has disappeared. I have had lawnmower, Midas, smiths, and my last one to disappear was a tailspot. I would say that my average blenny last about 3 years. Are they a short lived fish? I have had a pair of yellow tailed damsels for about 13 years, tangs, clown fish for more than ten years. I have had two black serpent start for about 13 years, is it possible they are the culprit? And who would have guessed they would be such a long lived animal? Anyone out there have a blenny for a long time?

 

[CoralNerd]

I read somewhere small fish don't live as long. [emoji19]

 

[MondoBongo]

i'm having a hard time finding any good information on their lifespan, with two questionable sources listing them between 3 - 5, and 2 - 4 years respectively (in regards to the Lawnmower Blenny, Salarias fasciatus).

i've seen how large they can get though, and given the potential sizes and the growth rate i've observed in mine, i would bet they could live at least twice that long, if not longer.

i've had my little guy, Mr. Creosote, for about two years now. he's roughly 3" long at this point, but was just over an inch when we got him. tiny little bugger. i've seen other Lawnmowers at the local zoo easily twice his length, and several times his girth though, so i feel he should be with me quite a bit longer.

i'm not familiar with the type of stars you keep, but due to the blenny's habit of perching around places, i would imagine they would make an easier target for a benthic predator than fish who tend to prefer hanging in the water column like clowns or damsels. that's just a guess though.

 

[running scott]

I just don't think the serpent stars are to blame. All my fish sleep wedged into the rocks except for my hoevens wrasses that sleeps in the sand bed. I have never seen any blennies that appeared sick. I do know that any smal fish that dies in my tank is eaten by detrivores very quickly.

 

[Sk8r]

3-5 years.

 

[jmareef1022]

Really that sucks...my bicolor blennie has been around for almost 5 I guess I should start planning his funeral

 

[running scott]

I hate when my fish die. I know everyone hates that. Duh! But it's one of the reasons I have never gotten a frog fish/angler fish is I heard they don't live long. It's hard enough stocking a reef aquarium, but I also have to factor in life span!