FOTM: Red Scooter Blenny-Synchiropus stellatus, March 2011

Well here's another write up on one of my other tank inhabitants. The Red Scooter Blenny(Synchiropus stellatus)

Care Level : Moderate

Behavior : Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size : 20 Gallon

Maximum Size : 2.5-3 inches

Reef Compatibility : Yes

Diet : Bottom feeder-Consist of algae, copepods, some live worms, and brine/mysis

Origin : Pacific Ocean

Water Conditions: Keep water quality high (72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025 ).

The Red Scooter Blenny is actually classed as a Dragonet, which also includes the ever popular Green and Spotted Mandarin Goby. The Red Scooter Blenny is the same as the regular Scooter Blenny but has a reddish brown coloration instead of the normal duller brown patterns. These fish are more suited to a reef type tank, as they scoot around the liverock, and live sand looking for small Amphipods and Copepods. Males are easily identified by their large dorsal fin which they will display mainly when courting and in territorial disputes. Females have 2 seperate fins.

A 30 gallon or larger reef aquarium that has live sand substrate, docile inhabitants, and lots of live rock makes the ideal aquarium for the Scooter Blenny. More than one of its species may be kept; if so, it is best to introduce them all to the tank at the same time. The ratio should be 2 or 3 females per male. A 55 gallon or larger aquarium is required if more than one male is to be kept.

I've had my female for a while and she is constantly hopping around the tank eating the little bits of algae and cleaning my sand. I actually let one of my rocks have alittle green hair algae to keep her fed(Its not easy to keep it to just one rock but its possible with lots of attention)

Various types of information can be found on them throughout the internet, but the common consensus(and my experience) has told me that these are actually pretty easy to keep in a well established tank that has plenty of sand and rocks. Will eat just about any "extras" and are happy with alittle algae to graze on. They will also eat some of the extra food floating around the bottom for you. They are slow eaters and should not have to compete for food.

Hope this is enjoyed, these little "guys" have plenty of personality are are generally fun to watch hop around the tank

 

If you have any pictures of yours, please feel free to post them...Always good to see others.

 

Cool write up! I had a scooter in a 75g for a year and a half and loved it. The hardest thing was getting him to eat, so the first month was a litle scarry.

 

great write up makeshiftcrew
and some really good images

interesting fish IMO

Steve

 

Wonderful write up and great images. You make an excellent point regarding not having other fish that it has to compete with for food, and best suited for established systems.

Thanks for sharing.

 

Mine jumped in and started eating right away, so i might have been lucky.

 

Agreed! Very interesting and fun to watch

 

Thanks yea having to fight for food would certainly end badly for this little "guy"

 

i used to have a scooter a while back. i was pretty inexperienced but did my research with attempts to get the guy to eat but he wouldnt eat frozen or preared . fed on my pods for a while but it was in competition with a sixline. i took a couple of pics when i had him. enjoy





great write up btw!

 

are you sure they eat algae. or are they just picking at pods that are in algae?