Tailspot blenny

[Lyn]

Does anyone know the true nature of Tailspot Blennys? I wanted to get one for a small tank to help with a bit of algae, but a LFS owner told me he doesn't bring them in because they are mean. That is not what I read on-line about them, plus I like the way they look.

If they are indeed truly mean towards other fish, does someone have a good alternative? It must stay small and be herbivorous, or at least eat a bit of hair algae. The algae in this tank is not bad, but it has cropped up again after changing light bulbs.

 

[LeviT]

I was actually considering one of those for my son's tank and was under the same impression. Hope someone chimes in.

 

[Lyn]

Levi,

Wasn't there someone with a picture of a tailspot posted under their name? I thought I've seen one in the past, but can't remember who that was. Perhaps they would know about the fish?

 

[Raddogz]

Art had one - Kinetic

 

[CookieJar]

I got 2 on a group buy- 1 made it. He's never bothered another fish- I don't have any other blennies but I have a # of small gobies. I've never heard of them being aggressive and recommend them, they look very nice and stay pretty small.

 

[Lyn]

Thanks CookieJar,

I'm glad you had/have a good experience with them. I was pretty perplexed when the store owner said they were mean. It doesn't seem that LFS carry them regularly. I've asked a couple. One told me they were a new fish so haven't come in any of his shipments yet. Do you or anyone else know if there is somewhere around the Bay that might have them, or would I need to mail order these?

BTW, does your tailspot eat algae/hair algae?

 

[CookieJar]

I hardly ever saw one at an LFS for about 1 year. I requested a LFS (Seascapes) to look for one, but they didn't see any shipments of them for a long time. I did see some at ASAP during the tour after a BAR mtg. I got mine by a group buy. As far as algae, I don't think it'll eradicate your problem, maybe he'll eat a little, but I've only seen him eating algae on the glass, not the hair type.

 

[Lyn]

Hmmm.... maybe I need a different fish. Has anyone had any luck with Hector's or Rainfords gobies eating algae?

 

[LeviT]

My neon goby eats algea from a clip but I can't say I've seen him eating anything from rocks or glass.

 

[Lyn]

Your neon eats algae from a clip? I thought they were strictly carnivorous/parasitivorous (is this a real word?).

 

[LeviT]

lol, I was surprised to. He's the fattest little neon goby I've seen

 

[Lyn]

Well Levi,

If you are still interested in getting a tailspot for your son, maybe we could do a group buy later on. I know his tank is still in the works, and I'm in no rush. Or, if you (or anyone else) spot a couple in a LFS sometime, let me know. I'll do the same.

 

[LeviT]

Sounds good. Hopefully Art will chime in too, just for good measure.

 

[kinetic]

I've had four tailspots, and never had much luck with them. I had one for a year, and then I didn't see him anymore. They definitely graze, and cannot tolerate high flow as well as other fish.

I had a pair from LiveAquaria that did really well for about 4 months, they were fat, but they never ate flake / mysis etc. because the flow was so high they couldn't chase it down. They also do the usual blenny chomping motion, but for some reason this technique sucks for getting light food out of the water column (such as flakes) because the flake just floats away. They need food that sits on rocks in lower flow areas most likely. I would try maybe pellet or some heavier foods that will sit on the bottom or on a rock. They can live for awhile off of grazing algae, but I believe that they need some meaty foods as well, that's the trick.

In terms of reef safe, my tailspots have never nipped any corals.

Goodluck, they're definitely worth a try =)

 

[Lyn]

Thanks for the info. Art. I've been looking at the info on them and wanting one for over a year now.

Do they do well together or better kept singly? What do you mean by, "they cannot tolerate other fish" ? Do they attack other fish? Are they skittish around other fish?

 

[kinetic]

[quote author=Lyn link=topic=4879.msg59551#msg59551 date=1224367681]
Thanks for the info. Art. I've been looking at the info on them and wanting one for over a year now.

Do they do well together or better kept singly? What do you mean by, "they cannot tolerate other fish" ? Do they attack other fish? Are they skittish around other fish?
[/quote]

Hi Lyn,
I didn't say they couldn't tolerate other fish, just that they can't tolerate high flow as well as other fish. They really don't bother or care about any other fish, unless they're also blennies of the same size and color. The pair I had fought a lot, I wouldn't recommend keeping more than one in a smaller tank. Also other blennies might try to woop on this one, since tailspots are really small.

 

[Lyn]

Thanks for the clarification.