Gentle herbivore

India

Premium Member
I have a 29 biocube, to be plumbed to a second 29 cube as a refugium. I am looking for small, gentle fish and need some one who will eat algae but not get so territorial that he will bully a hi fin shrimp goby or a blue striped pipefish. I am considering a Tailspot Blenny or a Yellow eye Blenny. I LOVE blennies and would like to include one, but they tend to get territorial...
I love the Rainford Goby, but I believe he eats the critters in the algae, and not the algae itself...I might include one anyway, which underlines the need for a GENTLE herbivore. Which would be the most gentle of the blennies and alternatively, what might be some other primarily herborivorous considerations, please?
Thank you very much!!
 
I love my lawn mower (or algae) blenny. I really did not think I would enjoy him that much but I truly do. No territory issues at all and talk about a worker. He landscapes every day. He is like the wise old man of my tank. All of the occupants love him.
 
Too large and aggressive for my vision, but great algae eater!
I had to relocate one from my 90 gal reef. I put him in a friends tank, and he recognizes me and makes threatening displays at the glass. he never forgave me for tearing up his tank and banishing him...
The problem is that herbivores encourage the regrowth of their favorite algaes by their grazing patterns. They then get attached to their garden and tend to defend it...
 
Highly recommend the tailspot. I don't think they'd give your other fish a hard time at all, and they're perfect for that size tank. Your bluestripe may not be as frail as he looks. Mine used to chase newcomers.
 
Tailspot is perfect, especially since they're so small. I'm not clear why you specifically want a herbivore, but if you're looking for any fish to control algae, you are heading up the wrong direction.
 
Not to really control the algae...there is not THAT much, but to create an array of eaters that take up different spaces and concentrating on different things...
 
Back
Top