Will my Lawnmower Blenny kill my Tridacnid?

[hansnfrans]

Want to know if I can trust this little guy around my LPS and Tridacnid clam? How can you tell if a clam is being nipped at? What does the damage resemble? He's an aggressive little feller, he's only 2 inches long and he bites the pectoral fins of my 5 inch maroon clown

 

[md fishes]

I just had to catch my blenny in a trap b/c he was attacking my clam. you'll be able to tell b/c the clam will start not opening.

 

[hansnfrans]

Is he pretty aggressive? Mine is definately a meat-eater (snacks on microalgae too). This makes me really worried about mine.

 

[PSam]

The blenny might pick at the little rice worms or parasitic crabs that sometimes come on Tridacnas, but will do more harm than good. Not like wrasse. I had a blenny that used to pick at acro polyps. they do a good job on the algae, but not worth the headache IMO. You'll see the mantle recede if the clam's not happy.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

a lawnmower blennie, if thats the type you're asking about, shouldn't touch any corals

 

[hansnfrans]

I looked in that book, Marine Aquarium Fishes, and they say that some specimens may nip at clam mantles

 

[md fishes]

If you really like clams (like me) I would avoid blenny's. Of course not all blennys will do it but I would be safe rather than sorry.

best of luck