Canary Blenny question

[MBVette]

A few days ago I added a new ORA canary blenny into my tank. He looks fat and healthy, but I have not seen him eat anything yet. Normally I wouldnt worry about it, but it looks like he cant move his mouth? It looks abnormally shaped, but I am not very familiar with canary blennies to know if this is normal.

I have been trying to get a picture, but he doesnt want to cooperate. Do their mouths normally have an odd shape to them, or is there something wrong?

 

[SweetTang]

I have a Fork Tail Fang Blenny....very similar to the Canary (Color is the main difference that I can see). The first one I tried never ate and eventually starved over the period of 3 weeks...no matter what I tried to feed it. I tried another on about a month ago. Wouldn't eat for the first 5 days, and I thought "here we go again." Then all of the sudden he started eating Mysis and Brine shrimp like a pig and has been great every since. Mine does kind of have a weird shaped mouth...kind of like his bottom jaw is protruding forward giving his mouth a puckered up look. Don't let this fool you...they can open it just fine.

My opinion with the Fang Blennies are that they are hit or miss when trying to get them to eat. I just kept trying the meaty foods soaked in garlic.

Good Luck!

 

[velvetelvis]

They do have funny little mouths. Also try cyclopeez--it's tiny and stays suspended for a while so they have plenty of time to eat.

 

[MBVette]

So I think I have figured out he can indeed open his mouth just fine b/c there is a bitemark on my foxfaces tail that looks about the size of his mouth.

He is swimming great and is a bit of a charector, and likes fighting the current of the MP40's so I think he is healthy. Maybe its just that odd mouth that is throwing me off.

Thanks guys

 

[small alien]

I'd be more worried about the bite.

 

[velvetelvis]

I've never, ever had a fangblenny attack another fish, even under provocation (harassed by territorial clownfish). The fangblennies ORA breeds are the peaceful Meiacanthus, not the scale- and fin-eating mimic blennies. Not saying it could never happen, but I'd be very surprised if he was the culprit.

 

[small alien]

Oh.

 

[velvetelvis]

I hope I didn't come across like I was chiding you, smallalien, because I didn't mean it that way at all. I apologize if that's how it sounded!

 

[small alien]

Not at all, my friend. I appreciate your concern. Cheers.