Algae Blenny feeding ideas needed, please! - Aquarium Advice

**Devilishturtles** · 11-13-2006, 07:58 PM

My algae blenny is quite particular...and it's driving me nuts. For some reason, hair algae loves to grow on the equipment in my tank, but not on the rock. The algae blenny though, doesn't touch it. He'd rather play in it, it seems. He rubs his face in it...but doesn't open his mouth to eat any.

So far, the only thing I can get the blenny to eat, is brine shrimp. He won't touch hair algae, and seems to ignore the seaweed sheets I add to the tank. He is still alive, so he must be eating something, but what do you guys feed your Blennys? Mine is constantly scavenging, but I still feel as if I need to see him eat something. I now feel like I must have a constant supply of brine shrimp just for the blenny, but he shouldn't eat them!

Thanks!

**roka64** · 11-13-2006, 08:25 PM

Just a crazy idea, can you put a little garlic in the hair algae? Not really sure if it will work, but it might be worth a try, crazy as it sounds....

**Devilishturtles** · 11-13-2006, 08:38 PM

Garlic huh? That's interesting. Like...storebought garlic or some sort of expensive made-for-aqarium garlic?

Nifty idea!

**roka64** · 11-13-2006, 08:41 PM

There are lots of people that use fresh store bought and squeezed. I would try to stay away from anything that has preservatives, I bought mine online, so I am not too sure what to look for, at the grocery. Try not to over do it on the garlic, maybe dilute two drops with some water and "spot feed" the algae, wow this is getting wierder...spot feeding hair algae. If you can remove the piece of equipment, try soaking it......Maybe someone can chime in....

Charlie · 11-13-2006, 09:16 PM

...are you sure its an Algae Blenny? I bought what I thought was an Algea Blenny a few weeks back. It only ate brine shrimp and nothing else. After a short while I determined that the fish I had bought was a Scooter Blenny. Scooter Blennys are meat eaters.

Just a thought.

**Devilishturtles** · 11-13-2006, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie

...are you sure its an Algae Blenny? I bought what I thought was an Algea Blenny a few weeks back. It only ate brine shrimp and nothing else. After a short while I determined that the fish I had bought was a Scooter Blenny. Scooter Blennys are meat eaters.

Just a thought.

Had me scared for a moment! It's definitley an Algae Blenny as per the pictures on Live Aquaria. Here is the little guy.

11-13-2006, 09:50 PM

Yes that is a Lawnmower/Sailfin...whatever it is an algae Blenny. I hear that they are hard to feed. If he is looking fed and not skinny I would not get too worried because your tank is established.

I have a few people in my reef club that have big Algae Blenny's so I will ask them what they do.

**Devilishturtles** · 11-13-2006, 09:55 PM

Thanks Mike. He has been looking okay, but a few days ago I noticed he looked skinny. I bought some brine shrimp, and now he looks plump again. He definitley is not following the norm.

**melosu58** · 11-13-2006, 10:12 PM

You might want to soak that brine in some garlic or vitamin supplement or Zoe. Something to enhance the brine.

**Devilishturtles** · 11-14-2006, 05:59 AM

Thanks for the tip melosu. I looked this last time, and the time before at my lfa and they are always sold out. I guess ill have to break down and order some online.

11-13-2006, 07:58 PM	#1
Devilishturtles Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Frederick, Maryland Posts: 7,898 Images: 17	Algae Blenny feeding ideas needed, please! My algae blenny is quite particular...and it's driving me nuts. For some reason, hair algae loves to grow on the equipment in my tank, but not on the rock. The algae blenny though, doesn't touch it. He'd rather play in it, it seems. He rubs his face in it...but doesn't open his mouth to eat any. So far, the only thing I can get the blenny to eat, is brine shrimp. He won't touch hair algae, and seems to ignore the seaweed sheets I add to the tank. He is still alive, so he must be eating something, but what do you guys feed your Blennys? Mine is constantly scavenging, but I still feel as if I need to see him eat something. I now feel like I must have a constant supply of brine shrimp just for the blenny, but he shouldn't eat them! Thanks! __________________ -Lindsay Live in the Western MD/West Virginia/DC Metro Area? Join our very active regional forum Here Like the advice someone just gave you? Add to their reputation! Click on the balance icon underneath their username and let them know.

11-13-2006, 08:25 PM	#2
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,980 Images: 12	Just a crazy idea, can you put a little garlic in the hair algae? Not really sure if it will work, but it might be worth a try, crazy as it sounds.... __________________ Age is relative, you are only as old as you act....of course, this works in reverse.... Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

11-13-2006, 08:38 PM	#3
Devilishturtles Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Frederick, Maryland Posts: 7,898 Images: 17	Garlic huh? That's interesting. Like...storebought garlic or some sort of expensive made-for-aqarium garlic? Nifty idea! __________________ -Lindsay Live in the Western MD/West Virginia/DC Metro Area? Join our very active regional forum Here Like the advice someone just gave you? Add to their reputation! Click on the balance icon underneath their username and let them know.

11-13-2006, 08:41 PM	#4
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,980 Images: 12	There are lots of people that use fresh store bought and squeezed. I would try to stay away from anything that has preservatives, I bought mine online, so I am not too sure what to look for, at the grocery. Try not to over do it on the garlic, maybe dilute two drops with some water and "spot feed" the algae, wow this is getting wierder...spot feeding hair algae. If you can remove the piece of equipment, try soaking it......Maybe someone can chime in.... __________________ Age is relative, you are only as old as you act....of course, this works in reverse.... Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

11-13-2006, 09:16 PM	#5
Charlie Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 294	...are you sure its an Algae Blenny? I bought what I thought was an Algea Blenny a few weeks back. It only ate brine shrimp and nothing else. After a short while I determined that the fish I had bought was a Scooter Blenny. Scooter Blennys are meat eaters. Just a thought. __________________ 46 gal FOWLR 11lb Live Rock - 40lb Live Sand ProClear Pro 75 - LR rubble & skimmer in sump AC 300 HOB AC 402 Powerhead - AC 301 Powerhead

11-13-2006, 09:50 PM	#7
Guest Posts: n/a	Yes that is a Lawnmower/Sailfin...whatever it is an algae Blenny. I hear that they are hard to feed. If he is looking fed and not skinny I would not get too worried because your tank is established. I have a few people in my reef club that have big Algae Blenny's so I will ask them what they do.

11-13-2006, 09:55 PM	#8
Devilishturtles Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Frederick, Maryland Posts: 7,898 Images: 17	Thanks Mike. He has been looking okay, but a few days ago I noticed he looked skinny. I bought some brine shrimp, and now he looks plump again. He definitley is not following the norm. __________________ -Lindsay Live in the Western MD/West Virginia/DC Metro Area? Join our very active regional forum Here Like the advice someone just gave you? Add to their reputation! Click on the balance icon underneath their username and let them know.

11-13-2006, 10:12 PM	#9
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,692 Images: 80	You might want to soak that brine in some garlic or vitamin supplement or Zoe. Something to enhance the brine. __________________ View My Tanks http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...8/melosu58.jpg Click here to Visit FantasyReef

11-14-2006, 05:59 AM	#10
Devilishturtles Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Frederick, Maryland Posts: 7,898 Images: 17	Thanks for the tip melosu. I looked this last time, and the time before at my lfa and they are always sold out. I guess ill have to break down and order some online. __________________ -Lindsay Live in the Western MD/West Virginia/DC Metro Area? Join our very active regional forum Here Like the advice someone just gave you? Add to their reputation! Click on the balance icon underneath their username and let them know.

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