Why do my blennies keep dying?

[huhhh]

Sorry if this is repetitive. I posted it in the reef discussion forum earlier, but wanted to see if I could get a few more eyes on it.

I have lost 2 lawnmower blennies in the last 3 months. Both seemed perfectly healthy, no marks, or spots, behaved normally, and ate normally. The last one died today. I may have found something on his right side gills (greenish coloring) I can't tell if it's anything or not. Pics may be too small to tell:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=393102&d=1530056146



The other possibility is a royal dottyback. Doesn't bother my clown or Val puffer at all. But maybe there is a reason only the long skinny fish are dying.

Would a starry blenny be better (different color) or would it matter.

This is a 46bow tank with crushed coral substrate btw.

 

[Rover88]

Are they eating?

Are you feeding them enough?

Its hard to tell, but just from the lines of the belly that looks like an extremely skinny fish to me.


How long has the tank been up? How many other fish are in it? Anyone else showing any unusual symptoms?

 

[huhhh]

Tank is about almost 8 months now. The clown, toby puffer, and royal dottyback are the only other inhabitants (and 5 cerith snails). 1 hammer, 2 zoa frags and 1 mushroom.

They seemed like they were eating fine, both were constantly grazing on rocks and glass and stuff. The previous one was even eating pellets and krill as well.

The tank is not overrun with algae, but it's noticeable on the substrate and glass in spots. as well as in patches on rocks and in crannies and stuff. I had to wipe some of it off the glass during the last water change as it was becoming a bit too noticeable.

 

[Reef noob_]

These fish can't survive on grazing alone, mine is an absolute pig during feedings, he'll take the entire cubes and chow down.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rover88]

Just based on the look of the guy, and what you said... He probably starved.

Lawnmower blennies get -fat-, that is how you know they are healthy. This guy is gaunt from the photos. Grazing all the time doesn't necessarily mean they are finding food, if you don't have a lot of algae they need a fair bit if supplemental feeding.

(This is from experience. :/ I had one that went the same way, because I couldn't convince him to eat supplied food)

 

[huhhh]

hum... I've had blennies when this tank was set up before that lived for years and never did anything but graze. I'm not saying your wrong, just that I never thought the tank would be clean (algae free) enough to starve a blenny. It doesn't look that clean--of course looks don't mean everything.

I guess my next question then is...is there an animal that can fit in a (somewhat aggressively balanced) 46 bow that will graze, for algae control help, but also eat other food?

Or just throw more snails in (so far my puffer hasn't eaten them...yet).

 

[Sk8r]

I'd give it a while to develop algae before installing a blenny. Species differences can mean a lot, and even with 'it's grey with spots' type blennies you might get one that's not the same as the last grey with spots one you had. Some just will not eat fishfood. Urchins will eat algae---don't know about puffers and urchins.I take it this is an under 100 gallon tank. There is also a variety of chemistry remedies (GFO, Reeflux) for algae that can clean up pretty well. And with a determined predator in the tank those may be your best bet.

 

[huhhh]

I'd give it a while to develop algae before installing a blenny. Species differences can mean a lot, and even with 'it's grey with spots' type blennies you might get one that's not the same as the last grey with spots one you had. Some just will not eat fishfood. Urchins will eat algae---don't know about puffers and urchins.I take it this is an under 100 gallon tank. There is also a variety of chemistry remedies (GFO, Reeflux) for algae that can clean up pretty well. And with a determined predator in the tank those may be your best bet.

The tank a is 46 bow. The algae isn't that big of a problem that I would need chemistry solutions. I've just always had an algae grazer to keep it from getting there. If there's not enough algae to eat, maybe I could use the extra space for another 'regular' fish. Something simi-agressive enough to fit in. Would and azure damsel get into it too much with a royal dottyback?

 

[Sk8r]

Azures are fairly quiet, given enough room. Might survive rooming with a puffer. Not sure.