Starry Blenny and Kole Tang

[Tom39]

My Kole tang sometimes seems to really not like his Starry Blenny tank mate. I would not say that he is attacking him but more like chasing him. This behavior doesn't seem to only happen at feeding time but feeding certainly doesn't help the situation. It also doesn't happen all the time either because a lot of the time the Blenny will swim around and the kole seems to not care.
Is it common that these two species don't get along or is it just these two.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration,
Tom G


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Cliving1]

Do a search on reef central, I think this combination of fish does usually result in this type of behavior. Dont quote me on it

 

[scooter31707]

Do a search on reef central, I think this combination of fish does usually result in this type of behavior. Dont quote me on it

Yes, it does. I experiment 2 different times with Starry (1st) and Lawnmower (2nd). Both Kole Tangs did the same thing. Very aggressive towards them and no one else.

 

[Nanook]

They both compete for the same foods grazing on rocks.

 

[rhdoug]

My scopas tang was best buddies with my first starry blenny. They were always together, the tang would hardly go to the algae clip without the starry. In the evening when the lights were dimming, they would rub against each other frequently, for 30-40 seconds at a time. They blenny would also gently "mouth" the tang, like when they graze on the rocks, but much gentler. The tang loved it. When the starry somehow got out of the tank past my netting I got the tang another one. (The scopas hid for days after that.) They also buddied up, but not to the extent of the first "pair".