what to feed algea blenny

It is known to nip at small-polyped stony coral and clam mantles. The Sailfin/Algae Blenny does best in well-established aquariums with large amounts of natural algae to feed on. The diet can be supplemented with vegetable matter, spirulina, and herbivore preparations.

Full Answer

Do I need to supplement the natural algae blenny diet?

Regardless of whether they are feeding on the microalgae in your tank or not, it is recommended that you supplement the natural Algae blenny diet with prepared foods designed to meet the nutritional needs of herbivores. Good choices for preferred Algae blenny (Lawnmower blenny) food are:

What does a blenny fish eat?

This blenny feeds mainly on filamentous microalgae, foraminiferans, detritus and sand. It also consumes sponges, fish eggs, minute crustaceans, small snails, insects (yes, insects) and small polychaete worms. It is thought that many of these organisms are ingested incidentally as the fish feeds on algae.

Are blennies algivores or carnivores?

Many of the blennies are algivores, and because of this, they are often introduced to the aquarium to control hair algae. The most popular with aquarists are the lawnmower blennies (especially the jeweled or lawnmower blenny [Salarias fasciatus]).

Can lawnmower blennies help control algae in coral reefs?

While the lawnmower blenny (Salarias fasciatus) may be employed to help control pestilent algae, other members of the family will also fit this role. Photo by Scott W. Michael Atrosalarias fuscus is a solitary species that usually lives among live and dead branching corals on coastal reefs, reef flats and protected outer reef faces.

Do you need to feed algae blenny?

They need a large area to graze and a constant supply of algae to eat, until they learn to take prepared foods. If you add them to a tank that doesn't have enough algae, they may starve before they figure out that the prepared foods are a suitable replacement for the squishy green stuff they crave.

Does blenny eat algae?

Food habits of the redlip blenny (O. atlanticus) indicate that it feeds almost entirely on algae and detritus: mostly blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and diatoms, but also green filamentous algae on occasion.

Which blenny eats the most algae?

Lawnmower Blennies (Salarias fasciatus) are awesome fish for algae.

What do you feed quarantine Lawnmower Blenny?

It's an algae clip ! Simple clip with a suction cup or magnet.

What does blenny fish eat?

They feed on small invertebrates (e.g., shrimp, snails) and tiny fish, so be aware of that before adding them to a multi-species tank.

Do I need to feed my Lawnmower Blenny?

Diet / Foods : You need lots of live rock with algae growth to sustain your Lawnmower Blenny long-term. They primarily feed on algae. You can try to supplement with dried algae sheets (nori) using a veggie clip or placed under some live rock in the tank for them to eat.

Do lawnmower blennies eat algae?

Uber Algae Eaters: The Lawnmower Blennies. Known for their algae-eating abilities, blennies of the genus Salarias can make outstanding reef residents provided certain basic requirements are met.

Is green algae good in a saltwater aquarium?

In the saltwater tank environment, algae can be an attractive addition to the tank and it may also serve as an alternative food source for fish and invertebrates. Algae also provide a means of nutrient export for nitrate, nitrate and phosphate in the saltwater tank.

Do blennies eat bubble algae?

A: There are certain fish species that eat bubble algae, including blennies, tangs, angelfish, and surgeonfish. Also, some invertebrates, such as emerald crabs, sea urchins, and turbo snails, will graze on bubble algae.

Does lawnmower blenny eat seaweed?

IME, a seaweed/nori clip works pretty well as a starter for starry and lawnmower blennies. Gives them something to graze on. After that they often take to mysis and other stuff offered.

How do you quarantine a blenny?

I've had good success using seaweed clips for lawnmower and starry blennies. You could put a dish of your DT sand in the quarantine. The dish would keep the sand in place and be easily removed. You could either toss the sand afterward or clean it and put it back in the display.

Will lawnmower blenny eat diatoms?

Lawnmower blennies eat diatom algae from the glass and rocks.

Do blennies eat bubble algae?

A: There are certain fish species that eat bubble algae, including blennies, tangs, angelfish, and surgeonfish. Also, some invertebrates, such as emerald crabs, sea urchins, and turbo snails, will graze on bubble algae.

Will a bicolor blenny eat algae?

The diet of the Bicolor Blenny should include vegetable matter, including frozen and dried foods containing marine and blue-green algae. It will also feed on (and help control) algae growing in the aquarium.

What will eat hair algae in reef tank?

Rabbitfish like the Foxface are excellent algae eaters, if a bit large when fully grown, but will help to make short work of green hair algae. An algae blenny or a Starry blenny may also be effective, or a combination of algae eaters like tangs, rabbitfish and blennies in large reef aquaria.

Does lawnmower Blenny eat seaweed?

IME, a seaweed/nori clip works pretty well as a starter for starry and lawnmower blennies. Gives them something to graze on. After that they often take to mysis and other stuff offered.

Care

Algae blennies are often added as utility fish for helping to control various algal growths in the aquarium. However, these are very personable fish and are fascinating to observe, regardless of their excellent ability at removing and consuming algae.

Feeding

By far and away, this species does best if a decent growth of filamentous algae is present in the aquarium for the fish to harvest at its leisure. Also offer plenty of vegetable matter, including frozen foods that contain marine algae and Spirulina.

Breeding

Unlikely in the aquarium because of the territorial nature of this species, and the difficulty in obtaining a mated pair.

What do sailfin blennys eat?

A sailfin blenny will eat microalgae growing in the tank, on rocks, tank walls, or decorations, including (hopefully), the dreaded green hair algae and bryopsis. Hardy as long as nutritional requirements are met. Generally, reef safe and appropriate to keep with corals and other invertebrates.

What does a lawnmower blenny eat?

The Lawnmower Blenny is an algae-eating, herbivorous fish that eats filamentous green microalgae, diatoms, filamentous blue-green microalgae, and detritus. Please note the prefix ‘micro’ there--as it is meaningful. Microalgae include the films you see on glass and live rock, as well as the hair algae, which are just thin strands of essentially similar cells. The Lawnmower blenny diet is also known to include tiny invertebrates, eggs, sponges, and small snails, although not thought to be primary foods (Michael 2015).

How old do sailfin blenny fish need to be?

The key to having a well-fed, happy Sailfin blenny fish is to care for them in an established, mature (read that as 1 year old or older) aquarium with a natural population of filamentous algae.

How big of a tank does a lawnmower blenny need?

Lawnmower blenny fish tank size. The official recommendation is that the minimum tank size for a Lawnmower blenny fish is 55-gallons, although it is a bit complicated and that is not a universally accepted response. The Algae blenny is not an active, open-water swimmer. They, therefore, do not require a lot of open space to swim about.

What is a blenny fish?

The Lawnmower Blenny fish is a popular and inexpensive algae-eating blenny with a great personality. At first glance, they may not seem super-attractive, but when you look close up, they really do have intricate, exquisite detail--and they make up for a lot, with a winning personality. Combine that with the fact that they generally will help keep ...

What color is an algae blenny?

Description of the Algae blenny. As you can see in the pictures, the Algae blenny is typically tan/green/gray with small black or blue spots on the head, and darker stripes across its body.

Where do sailfin blenny fish live?

Provide a lot of caves and hiding places for the fish to feel secure and thus reduce stress. The Sailfin blenny will usually dwell near the tank bottom, scraping algae off one rock at a time, and hiding in caves when things become stirred.

How many gallons of water does a blenny need?

They will even create their own burrows when they need to. So long as it has a few places to hide away, a tank as small as 20 gallons in volume will generally provide enough living space for a single blenny. They will be healthiest when water quality is optimal, they can also withstand less than pristine conditions.

What is the true blennie?

The so-called "true blennies" are known as blennioids and form their own taxonomical group. Though some aquarium literature speaks as though these true blennies form a family, the blennioids actually make up an entire suborder, with six families comprising the suborder Blennioidei.

What is a blenny's personality?

More than a few hobbyists would describe their blenny’s appearance and behavior as “cute,” entertaining, and even comical. With such endearing personality, along with being so temperamentally well suited for captivity, it is not surprising to so often see at least one blennioid inhabitant in most home marine aquaria.

Why do blennys have a strong nesting behavior?

They frequently exhibit strong nesting behaviors due to being demersal spawners — preparing nests at the bottom and laying their eggs there to develop. The eyes and mouth of a blenny are relatively large. They oftentimes bear distinctive cirri — wispy antenna or whisker-like appendages — on their heads.

What do squid eat?

They feed on small invertebrates (e.g., shrimp, snails) and tiny fish, so be aware of that before adding them to a multi-species tank.

What is a triple fin blenny?

Triplefin Blenny. The triplefins (family Tripterygiidae ), also called threefins, are a notable, even if not commonly kept, blennioid. The genera Tripterygion and Enneanectes claim around 100 species of oftentimes beautifully colored little fish. As their common name suggests, their dorsal fin is made up of three individual segments.

Is a blenny reef safe?

As a group, the blennies are reliably reef-safe, and their small adult size and overall hardiness also make them an excellent choice for any marine aquarist, including beginner hobbyists or those with smaller-sized aquaria. Indeed, numerous blenny species have been staples in the ornamental fish trade for decades.

What are blennies in aquariums?

Many of the blennies are algivores, and because of this, they are often introduced to the aquarium to control hair algae. The most popular with aquarists are the lawnmower blennies (especially the jeweled or lawnmower blenny [Salarias fasciatus]). The 13 species in the genus Salarias belong to the subfamily Salariinaeand are often collectively referred to as combtooth blennies. They are not the most colorful members of the family, but the color usually consists of bands, stripes, and spots in hues of brown, green, and cream. Their color patterns typically help them to disappear against the reef substrate.

How often should I feed lawnmower blennies?

If your tank has plenty of algae, then you can get away with feeding lawnmower blennies several times a week. In the wild, they continually rasp at hard substrate throughout the day. Therefore, if algae is in short supply in your tank, you may have to add food several times a day.

Why do damsels tolerate blennys?

There may be several reasons the damsel tolerates the blenny’s presence. By chasing out confamilials of similar or smaller size, S. fasciatus saves the damsel energy and time. In this way, the Salarias may exclude smaller blennies with higher metabolic needs from the damsel’s territory (reducing competition).

What fish invades a blenny?

Parrotfishes, surgeonfishes, and rabbitfishes may invade blenny territories at this time and preclude the blenny from feeding. While the jeweled blenny has a full gut as early as 7:00 AM, the rate of gut evacuation increases thereafter, as does the feeding rate.

What is the color of combtooth blennies?

The 13 species in the genus Salarias belong to the subfamily Salariinaeand are often collectively referred to as combtooth blennies. They are not the most colorful members of the family, but the color usually consists of bands, stripes, and spots in hues of brown, green, and cream.

What do S. fasciatus eat?

For example, the diet of S. fasciatus has been reported to include filamentous algae, diatoms, foraminiferans (shelled protozoa), tiny crustaceans, detritus, and sand. On occasion, this species will also consume fish eggs, sponges, and small snails.

How to tell if you need to feed a lawnmower?

Make sure your lawnmower blennies are getting enough to eat by regularly examining the contour of their bellies and dorsal musculature. If they are looking pinched in, you need to feed them more or move them to a tank with a better microalgae crop.

What do blennies live with?

Lawnmower Blennies live with sponges, stony corals, coral rubble, and macroalgae for shelter and a good supply of food. Most blennies live a solitary life without many other creatures around them. Much of their time is spent at the substrate where they search for detritus that has fallen from above.

How much does a blennie cost?

The larger the individual, the more they cost. Prices can vary from $20 to $40 based on size and the area you live in.

What is a lawnmower blenny?

The Lawnmower Blenny is a popular marine fish that is very interesting to watch and helps to keep your tank clean . This is because it likes to graze on hair algae, as its name might suggest. The species can be found under many names, such as the Jeweled Blenny, Sailfin Blenny, Algae Blenny, and Jeweled Rock Skipper.

What temperature should a lawnmower blennie be?

When arranging the aquarium, leave some open swimming spaces too. Lawnmower Blennies prefer a temperature between 72°F and 78°F. The pH should be 8.1-8.4 and you need a salinity of 1.020-1.025. Moderate-high water movement is ideal, so if your filter outlet is weak, try investing in an air/water pump.

What is a blennie lawnmower?

The Ultimate Lawnmower Blenny Care Guide. Blennies are a classic sight in a marine fish tank. They have added interest to the lower levels or aquariums for a long time. One of the most popular species is the Lawnmower Blenny; its name might give away why. They are good at grazing algae, helping you to keep levels low.

Why is it so hard to predict a lawnmower blennie?

This is difficult to predict because each individual behaves differently. Beginners will be able to care for Lawnmower Blennies, but they must be confident that they know how to handle these problems should they arise. Keeping the aquarium clean is crucial for keeping fish healthy.

When do blennies spawn?

A healthy diet is crucial too, providing the energy needed for mating. Lawnmower Blennies spawn seasonally between April and June. The rising spring temperature is one trigger for them to mate. Gradually raise the temperature of your tank to 78°F. This will hopefully stimulate the changing seasons.