Tailspot Blenny flashing on rocks

[small alien]

Greetings friends. This is my first post but I've been reading and learning on RC ever since I started my SW tank at the beginning of the year. Thanks!

I have had a beautiful little Tailspot Blenny in a 10gal QT for about one week. Tank is at 82F (I've read blennies like it warm in Summer and the LFS had it in a "hot" tank), SG is 1.023, PH 8.2-8.4, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate <5. He/she seems happy, eating algae of the glass and frozen mysis and prawn roe, swimming around and just generally being cool. However, I've noticed about 1/2 dozen times the little blenny flashing on a rock. Just once each time. It's distinct from the picking/eating behavior. No visible signs of anything wrong. I've read in one spot on Wet Web Media that blennies will occasionally exhibit this behavior without having any pest or disease issues. Then, in another spot, it says this flashing is almost ALWAYS a parasite. Can anyone shed any light on this? I want to feel very sure of the fish's health before introducing it to my main tank. Thanks in advance, the small one

 

[ricde]

Welcome!! I've had my tail-spot about 4 months now and he also"flashes" occasionally. At first I was worried, as you are, but mine shows no sign of anything awry. Mine was qt'd and treated for parasites before adding to display.

I also have a black-combtooth(7 months) that does the same.

 

[small alien]

Thanks a lot, ricde. That helps to set my mind at ease. May I ask, do you always medicate in QT or only if there are signs pests of disease? My inclination is not to medicate unless needed, but I'm new to that process. Thanks again for your reply. May I ask also, what do you feed your tail-spot besides tank algae and how is it doing? Cheers, Paul

 

[ricde]

My lfs treats all his fish before selling. I just hold them in a small 10 gal for 3 weeks before adding to display. I'm not sure what the lfs treats them with.

As for my tail-spot, he's doing great. I feed him different foods- frozen mysis, chopped nori, bb and some flake. He really eats good. The only time he has a problem is when the food is too large to fit in his mouth.

I've also noticed he needs to be fed daily. When he doesn't eat daily his stomach sinks in and he looks like he's starving. I've also noticed this from other threads about t-s on here.

Here's a quick pic of mine(can't get a good one of him out in the open- he doesn't sit still long unles he's hiding in his hole

 

[small alien]

Thanks again, ricde. All the best, small