Help... Lawn Mower Blenny

[Kannin]

I just bought one for my new tank and have been told that he will die because I don't have enough algae in my tank for him. He is going around biting all of the rock that has some micro algae on it and I put 3 rocks from my refugium in there that have some hair algae on them but, he doesn't seem to be interested in them.

I have tried a piece of nori tied to a rock and I have tried dropping little pieces of Formula II frozen algae near him with no luck. Is there anything that anyone can think of?

He is still fat at this time but, if he is in trouble... I''d like to get ahead of this now.

Specs...
220 gallon... put water and rocks in 3 weeks ago.
Reef made from marco rocks and foam
Only live rock so far is the 3 pieces I put in.

 

[ekrunch]

Mine eats Nori off of the a seaweed clip, flake food, and frozen food. He's a total pig and will eat anything that gets in front of him!

Just see if you can entice him to eat other foods besides algae and he should be fine.

 

[uncleant]

I have had mine for about 2 months now and i dont see him eating anything. I put in Nori and frozen and flakes but i dont see him eat it. And i have to hair algae on my rocks so i dont know how he is surving but what ever it is its working

 

[ekrunch]

You might try adding some garlic to the tank to inspire him to eat something and then feed some frozen food as well. Once he gets eating the frozen stuff, flake isn't far away.

 

[uncleant]

im not woreid cause he is getting bigger hahahh but i dont know how

 

[tami1024]

Mine never ate any of the algea or the nori that I put in the tank. He went to fish heaven in about 4 days! I will try again though.

 

[LePep]

I had one for about 4 months. It did not eat anything and believe me I tried everything. In the end he was so thin and weak that I had to put him out of his misery

He was my wife's favorite fish but I will not get another one. I've heard to many horror stories regarding them.

 

[ekrunch]

I started with a red spotted blenny that did the same thing. He lasted for about 3 days and then I never saw him again. My girlfriend's 90 has had a lawnmower in it for about 6 months and he'll eat pretty much anything you throw in the tank! My lawnmower is now about 4 months old and he eats like an absolute pig as well. Both of ours have big fat stomachs on them. It's hilarious to have a fish with a weight problem. LOL

 

[Kannin]

I soaked the Formula II frozen food in Garlic Extreme. I'' try again tonight and see if he's a little hungrier.

 

[ekrunch]

Try adding garlic directly to the tank for a few days. (1 drop / 10 gallons for the Kent stuff)

That works well for me to entice them to eat.

Good luck though. We love our lawnmower blennies (Snapper and Toro) and I hope yours works out as well!

 

[Akronviper]

I use Nori from Wall mart and some of the green algae from the pet store. If he's still fat he's getting some thing to eat. Mine goes from puffed belly to thin in about two days. Mine had a sunken belly when I figured out there was not enough algae to eat and since then (last 6 months) he's been doing fine. Also after he gets the Nori he still picks at the rocks and glass its just their nature.