It's not just the aquarium you need patience with!

[DrC]

Researching this hobby on the internet is a nightmare. Everyone has a
different opinion about everything! Things I have learnt about
Lawnmower Blennys today, all from reputable web sites:

1) They will only eat fresh algae on LR, not other foods
2) They do not eat algae but may eat flake and frozen products
3) They will only eat macro-algae
4) They will only eat micro-algae
5) They will eat hair algae
6) They will eat all algae except hair algae which they wont touch
7) They are small fish suitable for 20G and up
8) They are large fish only suitable for 60G min
9) They are an easy-to-keep fish
10)They are hard to keep and usually starve unless you return them
11)They can be used instead of snails and hermits
12)Snails and hermits do not eat algae
13)They are peaceful
14)They attack other fish that look like them

and so it goes on. Reminds me of a similar time I spent researching
what water should be used to add salt to, opinions ranging from "only
RO/DI" to "salt has been formualted to compliment the contents of tap
water NOT RO/DI".

[Marc Levenson]

It shoulds like you read reports from 14 different Lawnmower Blenny
owners. LOL

Let me know if you want to hear about my LMB some time. ;)

Marc


DrC wrote:
> Researching this hobby on the internet is a nightmare. Everyone has a
> different opinion about everything! Things I have learnt about
> Lawnmower Blennys today, all from reputable web sites:
>
> 1) They will only eat fresh algae on LR, not other foods
> 2) They do not eat algae but may eat flake and frozen products
> 3) They will only eat macro-algae
> 4) They will only eat micro-algae
> 5) They will eat hair algae
> 6) They will eat all algae except hair algae which they wont touch
> 7) They are small fish suitable for 20G and up
> 8) They are large fish only suitable for 60G min
> 9) They are an easy-to-keep fish
> 10)They are hard to keep and usually starve unless you return them
> 11)They can be used instead of snails and hermits
> 12)Snails and hermits do not eat algae
> 13)They are peaceful
> 14)They attack other fish that look like them
>
> and so it goes on. Reminds me of a similar time I spent researching
> what water should be used to add salt to, opinions ranging from "only
> RO/DI" to "salt has been formualted to compliment the contents of tap
> water NOT RO/DI".
>

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Ray Martini]

Alot of that is opinion and experience through trial and error. I had two
Lawnmower Blennies that starved to death much to my disappointment. My third
is thriving VERY nicely. He swims in the middle of the tank eating whatever
the flavor of the day is be it frozen shrimp, flake, pellets, whatever. It
grazes the rocks and glass and eats heartily from the veggie clip I feed to
the tangs.

So although alot of it is opinion, another big part of it is the personality
of the animal and his/her eating habits. Lawnmower Blennies are quite common
and not always easy to keep. Third time's a charm I guess because this
little guy is doing wonderfully. YMMV



"DrC" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Researching this hobby on the internet is a nightmare. Everyone has a
> different opinion about everything! Things I have learnt about
> Lawnmower Blennys today, all from reputable web sites:
>
> 1) They will only eat fresh algae on LR, not other foods
> 2) They do not eat algae but may eat flake and frozen products
> 3) They will only eat macro-algae
> 4) They will only eat micro-algae
> 5) They will eat hair algae
> 6) They will eat all algae except hair algae which they wont touch
> 7) They are small fish suitable for 20G and up
> 8) They are large fish only suitable for 60G min
> 9) They are an easy-to-keep fish
> 10)They are hard to keep and usually starve unless you return them
> 11)They can be used instead of snails and hermits
> 12)Snails and hermits do not eat algae
> 13)They are peaceful
> 14)They attack other fish that look like them
>
> and so it goes on. Reminds me of a similar time I spent researching
> what water should be used to add salt to, opinions ranging from "only
> RO/DI" to "salt has been formualted to compliment the contents of tap
> water NOT RO/DI".
>

[Ray Martini]

I'd like to hear it Marc! Took me three LMB's to get one that eats and
thrives. I posted a very cool pic of him on the alt.binaries.aquaia group/
Check it out when you get a chance.


"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
. ..
> It shoulds like you read reports from 14 different Lawnmower Blenny
> owners. LOL
>
> Let me know if you want to hear about my LMB some time. ;)
>
> Marc
>
>
> DrC wrote:
>> Researching this hobby on the internet is a nightmare. Everyone has a
>> different opinion about everything! Things I have learnt about
>> Lawnmower Blennys today, all from reputable web sites:
>>
>> 1) They will only eat fresh algae on LR, not other foods
>> 2) They do not eat algae but may eat flake and frozen products
>> 3) They will only eat macro-algae
>> 4) They will only eat micro-algae
>> 5) They will eat hair algae
>> 6) They will eat all algae except hair algae which they wont touch
>> 7) They are small fish suitable for 20G and up
>> 8) They are large fish only suitable for 60G min
>> 9) They are an easy-to-keep fish
>> 10)They are hard to keep and usually starve unless you return them
>> 11)They can be used instead of snails and hermits
>> 12)Snails and hermits do not eat algae
>> 13)They are peaceful
>> 14)They attack other fish that look like them
>>
>> and so it goes on. Reminds me of a similar time I spent researching
>> what water should be used to add salt to, opinions ranging from "only
>> RO/DI" to "salt has been formualted to compliment the contents of tap
>> water NOT RO/DI".
>>
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[DrC]

I'd like to hear your experiences as well Marc.

Thanks for your input.

David

[miskairal]

How true. It's like that with every aspect of this hobby. So confusing
when you are just starting out like me.

DrC wrote:
> Researching this hobby on the internet is a nightmare. Everyone has a
> different opinion about everything! Things I have learnt about
> Lawnmower Blennys today, all from reputable web sites:
>
> 1) They will only eat fresh algae on LR, not other foods
> 2) They do not eat algae but may eat flake and frozen products
> 3) They will only eat macro-algae
> 4) They will only eat micro-algae
> 5) They will eat hair algae
> 6) They will eat all algae except hair algae which they wont touch
> 7) They are small fish suitable for 20G and up
> 8) They are large fish only suitable for 60G min
> 9) They are an easy-to-keep fish
> 10)They are hard to keep and usually starve unless you return them
> 11)They can be used instead of snails and hermits
> 12)Snails and hermits do not eat algae
> 13)They are peaceful
> 14)They attack other fish that look like them
>
> and so it goes on. Reminds me of a similar time I spent researching
> what water should be used to add salt to, opinions ranging from "only
> RO/DI" to "salt has been formualted to compliment the contents of tap
> water NOT RO/DI".
>

[CheezWiz]

I have a great one too.
His personality is a great offset to my two clownfish (air heads) and
red-headed goby (Mr. sad faced paranoid circus clown who always looks
scared).

He is the grumpy old man of the tank. If we discipline him in any way he
gets mad and starts picking up hermits and snails and tossing them at the
side of the tank. (Like keeping him away from the brain coral as it SLOWLY
eats its catch of the day)

And the way he can go from deep green to solid white in less than a minute
is amazing!

Anyone else notice how much their heads and eyes look like chameleons, aside
from the color changing?
Wonder if they were on the same branch at some point a long time ago?


My female clown is the same way, if I discipline her. She gets ****ed and
takes it out on the little guy. Between she and I, he is always good.
CW

PS. DrC,
If you want one, buy a nice fat one local. Try to see if they will feed him
some flakes or pellets first.. Otherwise, just go for one who seems a bit
brave and looks to be in good health. They freak out when transported, so be
as gentle as possible and acclimate nice and slow with the lights dim...
"DrC" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Researching this hobby on the internet is a nightmare. Everyone has a
> different opinion about everything! Things I have learnt about
> Lawnmower Blennys today, all from reputable web sites:
>
> 1) They will only eat fresh algae on LR, not other foods
> 2) They do not eat algae but may eat flake and frozen products
> 3) They will only eat macro-algae
> 4) They will only eat micro-algae
> 5) They will eat hair algae
> 6) They will eat all algae except hair algae which they wont touch
> 7) They are small fish suitable for 20G and up
> 8) They are large fish only suitable for 60G min
> 9) They are an easy-to-keep fish
> 10)They are hard to keep and usually starve unless you return them
> 11)They can be used instead of snails and hermits
> 12)Snails and hermits do not eat algae
> 13)They are peaceful
> 14)They attack other fish that look like them
>
> and so it goes on. Reminds me of a similar time I spent researching
> what water should be used to add salt to, opinions ranging from "only
> RO/DI" to "salt has been formualted to compliment the contents of tap
> water NOT RO/DI".
>

[CheezWiz]

Forgot to mention,

They are not that great at algae control IME.
Mine holds out for the good stuff, and what algae he does eat comes out as
living poop pellets that just start a new algae growth wherever they settle.
It is the personality that makes them priceless in my book,

Also forgot, as soon as I put an anemone in for the clowns, he went from
pooping in the back to pooping in their anemone. He is quite jealous. He
even times his poop so that when the outlet on that side of the tank gets
switched on by my SCWD, it disperses his poop pellet all over the anemone
and clown. Then she gets ****ed, commits some domestic violence and cleans
up the mess.

The Blenny is such an ass hole it is quite funny.
He also loves to take a front row seat when the clowns start their
trailer-trash antics..

CW
"CheezWiz" > wrote in message
...
>I have a great one too.
> His personality is a great offset to my two clownfish (air heads) and
> red-headed goby (Mr. sad faced paranoid circus clown who always looks
> scared).
>
> He is the grumpy old man of the tank. If we discipline him in any way he
> gets mad and starts picking up hermits and snails and tossing them at the
> side of the tank. (Like keeping him away from the brain coral as it SLOWLY
> eats its catch of the day)
>
> And the way he can go from deep green to solid white in less than a minute
> is amazing!
>
> Anyone else notice how much their heads and eyes look like chameleons,
> aside from the color changing?
> Wonder if they were on the same branch at some point a long time ago?
>
>
> My female clown is the same way, if I discipline her. She gets ****ed and
> takes it out on the little guy. Between she and I, he is always good.
> CW
>
> PS. DrC,
> If you want one, buy a nice fat one local. Try to see if they will feed
> him some flakes or pellets first.. Otherwise, just go for one who seems a
> bit brave and looks to be in good health. They freak out when transported,
> so be as gentle as possible and acclimate nice and slow with the lights
> dim...
> "DrC" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>> Researching this hobby on the internet is a nightmare. Everyone has a
>> different opinion about everything! Things I have learnt about
>> Lawnmower Blennys today, all from reputable web sites:
>>
>> 1) They will only eat fresh algae on LR, not other foods
>> 2) They do not eat algae but may eat flake and frozen products
>> 3) They will only eat macro-algae
>> 4) They will only eat micro-algae
>> 5) They will eat hair algae
>> 6) They will eat all algae except hair algae which they wont touch
>> 7) They are small fish suitable for 20G and up
>> 8) They are large fish only suitable for 60G min
>> 9) They are an easy-to-keep fish
>> 10)They are hard to keep and usually starve unless you return them
>> 11)They can be used instead of snails and hermits
>> 12)Snails and hermits do not eat algae
>> 13)They are peaceful
>> 14)They attack other fish that look like them
>>
>> and so it goes on. Reminds me of a similar time I spent researching
>> what water should be used to add salt to, opinions ranging from "only
>> RO/DI" to "salt has been formualted to compliment the contents of tap
>> water NOT RO/DI".
>>
>
>

[Marc Levenson]

I was kind of kidding, but why not...

The first one I bought lived for about a week, and vanished. I never
saw anything that indicated that it even died. My tank at that time had
quite a bit of algae, so I was quite surprised to lose it. It never did
turn up whatsoever. Maybe my dog ate it. LOL

The second one is still with me to this day. It came with my 280g reef.
It was in a tank with all kinds of livestock and even an eel, and
even with the tank being negleted for months, the fish was happy and
healthy.

It has been with me for about 10 or 11 months now, and perches
everywhere in my tank. I've watched it perch on top of a mandarin
repeatedly, so that the fish just had to wait for it to swim away. My
Powder Blue Tang loves to chase it across the tank.

It eats nori, and any other food I drop in the tank. And it also will
eat sponge (I bought a gorgeous orange tree sponge, but it didn't last
more than a couple of months) and will take bites on rocks, corals, and
the glass.

For a couple of weeks I didn't clean the glass of my tank, and you could
see his lip marks all over the place. It was kind of funny. Since I
cleaned the glass again, he's moved on to the back wall of the tank.

Marc


DrC wrote:
> I'd like to hear your experiences as well Marc.
>
> Thanks for your input.
>
> David
>

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Ray Martini]

I have an Orange Tree Sponge coral (looks like a cactus) in the reef and the
Blenny never goes near it. He swims mid water with the tangs, clowns, and
chromies and eats flake and loves nori, pellets, and of course brine. He
even snatched a piece of silver side that I feed to my Anemone.

Funny how each animal has different behaviours. I guess that's part of the
lure of this hobby.

BTW Marc, love your tanks and thanks for the website. The 411 there has
helped me on several ocassions. Appreciate you taking the time to share.


"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
.. .
>I was kind of kidding, but why not...
>
> The first one I bought lived for about a week, and vanished. I never saw
> anything that indicated that it even died. My tank at that time had quite
> a bit of algae, so I was quite surprised to lose it. It never did turn up
> whatsoever. Maybe my dog ate it. LOL
>
> The second one is still with me to this day. It came with my 280g reef.
> It was in a tank with all kinds of livestock and even an eel, and even
> with the tank being negleted for months, the fish was happy and healthy.
>
> It has been with me for about 10 or 11 months now, and perches everywhere
> in my tank. I've watched it perch on top of a mandarin repeatedly, so
> that the fish just had to wait for it to swim away. My Powder Blue Tang
> loves to chase it across the tank.
>
> It eats nori, and any other food I drop in the tank. And it also will eat
> sponge (I bought a gorgeous orange tree sponge, but it didn't last more
> than a couple of months) and will take bites on rocks, corals, and the
> glass.
>
> For a couple of weeks I didn't clean the glass of my tank, and you could
> see his lip marks all over the place. It was kind of funny. Since I
> cleaned the glass again, he's moved on to the back wall of the tank.
>
> Marc
>
>
> DrC wrote:
>> I'd like to hear your experiences as well Marc.
>>
>> Thanks for your input.
>>
>> David
>>
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Marc Levenson]

You are very welcome Ray, and thanks for taking a second to write that. :)

Marc


Ray Martini wrote:

> BTW Marc, love your tanks and thanks for the website. The 411 there has
> helped me on several ocassions. Appreciate you taking the time to share.


--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[RicSeyler]

LOL Mine used to take care of my aptasia and flatworms by shaming them
out of the tank, would
clean all my cleaner shrimp, keep my sand bed aerated, and would wake me
for work every morning
by emitting a loud barking sound at precisely 7:00 am. ;-)

Marc Levenson wrote:

> It shoulds like you read reports from 14 different Lawnmower Blenny
> owners. LOL
>
> Let me know if you want to hear about my LMB some time. ;)
>
> Marc
>
>
>

--
Ric Seyler