Starry Blenny Aggression

[terryagi]

I have a starry blenny that has been in my 40g for about six months or so. It hasn't displayed any aggression to any of the other inhabitants. However, it immediately attacked a randall's goby that I added. I rescued the goby, and it is now in my sump.

If I remove the blenny, move the goby, and wait a few weeks, do you think that the blenny will attack it again? How long would you suggest leaving the blenny out of the tank?

 

[SlateXIV]

I have a friend who had his starry blenny kill a jawfish. And he hadn't had any aggression issues with it prior to the jawfish. Also this was a new tank he had set up and the jawfish were introduced before he moved over his starry blenny. Hope this helps.

 

[terryagi]

Thank you, slate.

Does anyone else have any experiences?

 

[jlanger]

This is from an earlier thread about multiple blennies in a tank, but it does share our experience with a Starry Blenny.

"In our 45cube we had an established Tailspot blenny (E. stigmatura) and added a starry blenny (S. ramosus) with no problems. The starry was a tad larger than the tailspot. The Ecsenius sp. seem to be more tolerant of new additions.
One concern though, our starry became very aggressive to any new additions. He ended up killing a tiger watchman goby and a flameback angelfish we tried adding later, even though he didn't bother a much smaller sixline wrasse and yashia white-ray goby that were already in the tank. Needless to say he was caught and returned to the LFS. He was a great fish, but every species ends up with one that does follow the rules."

They are a great little fish and I would like to get one again. But some just do not like anything new being added to "their" tank.

Hope that helps.

-JASON

 

[mallorieGgator]

I'm pretty sure they are territorial to other fishes like jawfish, other blennies, and gobies. Usually one per smaller tank is a good idea.

 

[SWINGRRRR]

I had a Starry that killed a Diamond sand sifter. And he would regularly draw blood when my hands were in the tank. Should have been called the Stealth Bleeny. He pop out of the rocks, bite me, then be gone.

 

[Bret61081]

My Tonga Golden sailfin did the same thing. Killed a pair of twinspots, and a few sand sifters before I realized what was happening. My midas was there before and they get along just fine. Sadly I like him too much to get rid of him!!

 

[terryagi]

Thanks for all the info. I'm thinking that I'll remove the blenny for a while until I add the remaining fish. Hopefully this will "reset" him. What do you think.