Algae blenny stopped eating

[zwalter38]

I’ve had this algae blenny for over a year and he has been grazing for hours on end. I was just feeding my corals when I noticed he was super skinny and skittish. And as I think about it I haven’t noticed him grazing as much. Im confused on why he would just stop eating. The only thing that has really changed in the tank is I removed a princess damsel. Added two peppermint shrimp, a sea hare, and some corals. The additions were in the past two or three days, and based on how skinny he is I don’t think they have anything to do with it. It looks like it’s been longer than 2-3 days since he’s eaten. Any ideas on how to get him to eat, or what could be going on.

More specs on the tank
135
Nitrates 10
Phosphate 0.03
Temp 79
Salinity 1.025
Other inhabitants:
Foxface
2 lyretail anthias
2 ocelaris clowns
Pistol shrimp yellow goby pair
Emerald and hermit crabs
Trocus snails
Sea hare
2 Peppermint shrimp

 

[Ziggy17]

Sea hares are pretty voracious eaters, but 135g should be large enough for them both. Perhaps not. Will the blenny take nori on a clip?

 

[zwalter38]

Sea hares are pretty voracious eaters, but 135g should be large enough for them both. Perhaps not. Will the blenny take nori on a clip?

There is definitely a ton of algae still available for the blenny so I’m not really worried about the sea hare out competing him. Especially since with how skinny he is he hasn’t been eating for a little while it seems like, and I’ve only had the sea hare for a few days.
I don’t have an algae clip, so that’s something I could try. But I’m just confused on why all of a sudden he just stopped eating what he has been for over a year? There is no way he is getting to the end of his life span is he? I got him from my lfs like I said about a year and a month or two ago.

 

[W31Olds]

How large is he and is he active and out and about? I have one of these and they are sometimes picky and can be intimidated by other fish. Mine is about 5" long so and adult for sure.

 

[zwalter38]

How large is he and is he active and out and about? I have one of these and they are sometimes picky and can be intimidated by other fish. Mine is about 5" long so and adult for sure.

He’s probably 3-4”. He’s not as active as he was, but I’m guessing that’s because he’s so malnourished at this point. I’m disappointed I didn’t catch it sooner, but I’ve had him for a while so I haven’t been keeping an eye on him closely like the newer things. I’m not sure what he could be intimidated by. The damsel I removed would chase him but I removed him. Maybe the female anthias but she’s been in the tank for a month or two now. And he was eating fine for a while after she was introduced. I can’t see anything physically wrong with him either.

 

[Ziggy17]

Can you clarify the species of blenny?

 

[zwalter38]

Salarias fasciatus aka lawnmower blenny

 

[mosreef]

I’ve had luck rubber banding nori to a rock to get them to eat. Sometimes soaking it with selcon helps too, or fauna Marin food energizer.

 

[W31Olds]

I'd say that Damsel may have caused your problem. When I first got mine he would not eat in quarantine until I finally wrapped a piece of PVC with a sheet of nori using rubber bands. Probably close to 3 weeks and he never seemed to lose weight so yours may not have been feeding for a long time.

 

[zwalter38]

I'd say that Damsel may have caused your problem. When I first got mine he would not eat in quarantine until I finally wrapped a piece of PVC with a sheet of nori using rubber bands. Probably close to 3 weeks and he never seemed to lose weight so yours may not have been feeding for a long time.

I would like to say I agree. But I had the damsel and the blenny together for a year and they were fine. Now the issue seems to have started sometime around when I removed the damsel. Could i possibly have stressed out the blenny and now he’s not eating? Although it’s been at least a week from when I removed the damsel so I would figure he wouldn’t still be stressed from that. And I know I’ve seen him eat more recently than 3 weeks. So I’m super confused on what’s going on.

 

[Ziggy17]

There are a few threads on the site that speaks about these particular fish dying a slow death from lack of nutritional requirements from just grazing on algae.

 

[zwalter38]

There are a few threads on the site that speaks about these particular fish dying a slow death from lack of nutritional requirements from just grazing on algae.

That makes some sense. He never really took any pellet or frozen food. But for many months he was super healthy, plump and constantly eating. In fact I asked my mom today to make sure I wasn’t crazy and she said the same thing. We saw him about two weeks ago maybe a little less. And he looked like he was healthy, like we didn’t think he looked skinny or anything. I also couldn’t find him today after about an hour or so of looking. I’m thinking he might have died in the rock work.

So are you thinking he could have been on a slow decline for a while because of lack of nutrition from just grazing?

 

[Ziggy17]

That makes some sense. He never really took any pellet or frozen food. But for many months he was super healthy, plump and constantly eating. In fact I asked my mom today to make sure I wasn’t crazy and she said the same thing. We saw him about two weeks ago maybe a little less. And he looked like he was healthy, like we didn’t think he looked skinny or anything. I also couldn’t find him today after about an hour or so of looking. I’m thinking he might have died in the rock work.

So are you thinking he could have been on a slow decline for a while because of lack of nutrition from just grazing?

According to the experts, unless they are getting calcium from eating coral skeleton and other sources, they slowly die of malnutrition.
I’m not said experts, just checked up on here through the forums.

 

[zwalter38]

According to the experts, unless they are getting calcium from eating coral skeleton and other sources, they slowly die of malnutrition.
I’m not said experts, just checked up on here through the forums.

Thanks for help. I do remember reading That now that you say