Emaciated Black Sailfin Blenny

[hansnfrans]

I picked up what appears to be a Black Sailfin Blenny from Oceans Floor a couple weeks ago. Dave has them labeled as "Black Midas Blennies" but I couldn't find anything w/ that common name (I even searched fishbase.org for the ID of this fish). You all know how it goes w/ "common" naming in this hobby.

Anyway, this poor little guy will only eat brown algae that develops on the aquarium glass and LR. Dave said that these blennies were eating Spectrum Pellets for him, but mine has no interest in the spectrum pellets that I tried to feed him. I tried nori on a "seaweed" clip, I tried rubberbanding the nori to a rock, I tried Rod's Food, Formula 2, and brine shrimp. None of these foods were capable of eliciting a feeding response out of this stubborn little fish. I am slowly watching him waste away in my tank. I no longer clean the brown algae from the glass anymore b/c that is all that he'll eat, but it isn't enough. His stomach is totally sunken in now.

What can I do? Any ideas? I am tempted to bring him to the Shedd Aquarium just so that he is happy. I bet the Shedd would take a small fish like this, dontcha think? I would much rather keep him in my aquarium but not if I can't get him to eat. Please help. Thanks.

 

[hansnfrans]

I am thinking about trying some veggies w/ this fish. Which ones are acceptable choices for a marine system. I am thinking broccoli, romaine lettuce, zucchini........what else?

 

[Douglas LEHMAN]

Hello
Place a small aquarium, (10 gallons) next to a window. Fill it with old tank water, and some LR. In a week or so you'll have your own little alga farm, swap out the (now) feeder stones as needed. That should fatten up the little guy in now time...

 

[mitlik1]

Have you tried any pods? They like those also (at least mine does).

 

[hansnfrans]

Douglas- I was thinking about doing something like that. I know Anthony Calfo and Bob Fenner have suggested this in their books. But the problem is that I am riding the edge in my household, with all of the aquarium stuff I have goin' on now. If I put another tank up, I think my mom will snap

If I do this, then I need to target the growth of Brown algae on the rocks. How would I go about promoting the growth of brown algae over the growth of green algae?

 

[softbal4]

i would be willing to adopt him if you find you do not have the means to take care of him.

 

[ostrow]

I lost 3 lawnmower blennies and won't get them again. Painful watching them starve. Especially with all that food around. Just could never get them to eat. And there's always been plenty of algae in my tanks of all sorts.

I'd try what Doug suggests. Maybe a little 2Gal in your bedroom???

 

[ostrow]

Tell your Mom its "temporary," remembering that Lenin called "temporary" the relocation of Russia's capital from St. Petersburg to Moscow in 1917.

 

[mbunaman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7756921#post7756921 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mitlik1
Have you tried any pods? They like those also (at least mine does).

Blennies dont eat pods maybe they end up in their mouth when they pick at glass and rocks. Thye are strictly vegetarians. They cant survive that long eating animal proteins only. It will destroy their vital organs overtime with fatty deposits. Beware some stores will tell you they are eating to sell you anyting. Always have them prove it. But I find that most blennies dont eat prepared foods maybe 10% of them do. I have had a few in the past they like to eat brown diatom and any soft algae that grows on the glass. Dont clean your glass for a week. If you see kiss marks on it then you know he is eating this is a good observation to do. Yeah the Black Midas is a generic name Wholesaler give to these blennies. I think what you have is a Atrosalarias fuscus type. They are cool I had one for many years.

 

[hansnfrans]

mbunaman - The majority of these Black Midas' will have a patch of neon blue on their face that comes out when they are relaxed. Is that the same one you had. My understanding was that blennies are generally omnivorous. Do you recall the source that said that they are vegetarians? Just curious.

Softbal4 - While I would rather give this fish to a fellow reefer, I would not be making the best choice in his best interest. I know that if he was donated to the shedd, he would have a much better chance of surviving.

 

[hansnfrans]

Tried romaine lettuce today, no luck .

 

[softbal4]

i was not saying donate....i have a fully established 220 with a couple of blennies that are fat and healthy...not stepping on any toes just offering to purchase and help rescue.

 

[hansnfrans]

softbal4- your not stepping on any toes, no worries. If you really think that you could keep him alive I guess that would be okay. Didn't see that you had a 220gal tank .