What to feed a Lawnmower?

[gkw]

I bought a Lawnmower blenny and want to make sure he has enough to eat...what should I buy for him? Does he eat nori?

He has been eating Formula 1 pellets.

Thanks!
GKW

[Brandon1023]

I want to say something but please dont take this the wrong way at all. I have learned this lesson many times (and many dollars) the hard way by fish dying on me after just a couple days. If you are going to buy something, do a little research on it first. That way you wont get something that you cannot care for or your tank isn't equipped to care for. www.liveaquaria.com is a website I use alot when I'm deciding on a new fish or coral or something. I have been doing this for 4 years, and am STILL learning things all the time. That being said.....your lawnmower blenny will likely graze on the algae on your live rock.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p....cfm?pCatId=94

I'm surprised to hear that he's eating pellet food...but then again like I said I'm still learning things all the time. I've had a couple of these guys before and they have tons of personality. If you dont have enough algae then try getting vegetable matter like liveaquaria says. Trust me I know its fun to just go to the fish store and buy the next cool fish. But after learning my lesson the hard, and deadly way, take my advise and research something before you buy it. Your fish, and wallet, and you will be a lot happier that way!

[rickzter]

gkw, although Brandon's advice seems harsh, he's actually looking out for you, dont take it the wrong way. He is completely right, reasearch, research, research! There is not one person on 3reef who has not bought on impulse and lost cash along the way, most learn the hard way.

Anyway, back to the blenny, I am actually quite surprised that he is eating pellets. These fish tend to graze rock, and graze only rock, that is where their preferred algae grows. They are excellent cleaners and hardy, but extremely difficult to provide food for unless you have an extremely well established tank cultivating fresh algae daily. I would not recommend this fish to anyone with a young tank, it must be atleast 6+ months or very well established or they will die. I made the mistake of adding him only 2 months into the cycle to help "keep my tank clean," he later died. Another way to introduce this fish is if you are having a green hair algae bloom.

A good way to tell if he is being nutritioned is if he has a big belly by the time the lights go out. The one who is currently not full in my tank is my mandarin, grrr. Everyone else looks like they are gonna have babies.

[Bruce]

Well, my Blenny eats everything...but he loves the formula 2 flakes.

[Dustin75]

I have a tank full of hair algae but my lawnmower would only sleep in it, not eat it!!! I had to feed it brine shrimp but in the end the other tank dwellers out competed it for the brine and it ended up starving. It did however pick at the sheets of algae that I put in for the tang and foxface. I think the hair algae in my tank tastes bad because nothing eats it not even snails, usually they are dead within four days. I guess they don't have any food that they like to eat (i.e. hair algae).

But back to the Lawnmower, try feeding it dried sheets of algae.

[gkw]

Brandon:

Yes, I agree with research before buying and the blenny wasn't an impulse buy. I stated "I want to MAKE SURE he has enough to eat," is just that...I want him to be fat. I know what's their primary food source. He's been grazing the rock most of the time, and sometime eat the pellets when I am feeding my Royal Gramma, but I want to add something to the tank for him for a easy snack. I also go to www.saltwaterfish.com for info too(kinda a second opinion and if the info are contradicting, then I come here ).
Thanks for the concern!

Rickzter:

Brandon's post wasn't harsh at all and it's a good reminder for me and everyone else here. And so far, I have not made any impulse buy yet (knock on wood), except LR...I am making mine, but everytime go to the LFS, I buy some and so far I have almost 50 lbs already and I have over 150 lbs curing.

Back to the Lawnmower,
So, I am lucky to have a pellets eating Lawnmower Blenny. I shall name him "Pellet."

Bruce:
What does yours eat?

Dustin:
The sheets of algae you mentioned...is it dried seaweed? I am going to get some anyway for my future tang (in 2 - 3 months ), so I might as well get some now if the Lawnmower will eat it.
If not, where do you get yours and what's the name?

And for the "vegetable matter and herbivore preparations", what do you recommend?

Thanks all!

[coral reefer]

Their is a product on the market by Julian Sprung called "sea veggies". Different colored seaweed(brown, red, green and purple) very nutritious for Tangs, various blennies etc.

[amcarrig]

Originally Posted by gkw

So, I am lucky to have a pellets eating Lawnmower Blenny. I shall name him "Pellet."

That's awesome!

I have a lawnmower blenny that eats just about anything I throw into the tank. I have had a few, however, that ate nothing but the algae on the rock and glass. They eventually starved to death as a result.

[APC]

My lawnmower blenny just craoked this past weekend. I had him for 6 months. I tried to feed him dry seaweed, etc. but he did not take it very well. I think he unfortunately starved to death. I don't plan to get another one because of feeding issues...which is a bummer because they are really cool fish!

[amcarrig]

Originally Posted by APC

My lawnmower blenny just craoked this past weekend. I had him for 6 months. I tried to feed him dry seaweed, etc. but he did not take it very well. I think he unfortunately starved to death. I don't plan to get another one because of feeding issues...which is a bummer because they are really cool fish!

Sorry to hear that. Like I mentioned, I too have lost a few of these fish because of starvation. I wouldn't give up on them entirely though. If you see one for sale at a store and ask the owner to show you whether or not it's eating flakes, you may be able to find one that isn't such a picky eater.