Molly Miller blenny and skinny blenny disease

[MyFirstCar]

Hi, I have a 20 gallon with 2 clownfish, some aptasia, and a mild green turf algae problem. I'm hoping to add a Molly Miller to help curb the two problems, and for general interest.

However, I'll really only able to consistently feed the tank once or twice a day, and im wondering about skinny blenny disease. I'll also probably have to skip a day here and there. Are Molly Millers as prone as other species? And will that be enough feeding?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi, I have a 20 gallon with 2 clownfish, some aptasia, and a mild green turf algae problem. I'm hoping to add a Molly Miller to help curb the two problems, and for general interest.

However, I'll really only able to consistently feed the tank once or twice a day, and im wondering about skinny blenny disease. I'll also probably have to skip a day here and there. Are Molly Millers as prone as other species? And will that be enough feeding?

Blennies do better with more frequent, smaller feedings, but this species is pretty hardy, I wouldn't be too worried about that.

I wouldn't expect it to control the Aiptasia though, and depending on the species of green algae, it may not eat that very well either.

The big issue is the wild caught lawnmower blennies - they can get skinny despite how much or how often they are fed. It either has to do with internal parasites, or if they were collected with cyanide. Biota just released some tank raised lawnmowers, so hopefully that will be an option for folks in the future.

Jay

 

[Baldguy]

I've had three Molly millers. Lots of personality. None touched any algae. I know some have had them go after apraxia but I've not had aphasia to test them. They do have an appetite for rock flower nems. None had any issues with not being fed often enuf.

 

[MyFirstCar]

Just got this from the LFS, looks to be very skinny. @Jay Hemdal does this look like he has a chance?

 

[blaxsun]

My advice is to not add any kind of algae-eating blenny (lawnmower, molly miller, etc.) to your tank. They can and are finicky eaters at times and 20 gallons won't be enough to sustain their picky food selections. @Jay Hemdal is correct with the survivability rate. I've only had one survive for more than 6 months (14 months at the time of this writing) - and he's the only algae-eating blenny in my 160-gallon display.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Just got this from the LFS, looks to be very skinny. @Jay Hemdal does this look like he has a chance?

If it is eating, then it might pull through, but it is REALLY skinny. Did the LFS give you a break on the price?
What happens with skinny fish is that they use up their livers for food energy, and then they die from liver failure.
Jay

 

[MyFirstCar]

If it is eating, then it might pull through, but it is REALLY skinny. Did the LFS give you a break on the price?
What happens with skinny fish is that they use up their livers for food energy, and then they die from liver failure.
Jay

Unfortunately, no break on the price...

 

[MyFirstCar]

Well, its been more than 2 weeks, and the blenny seems to be fattening up! I'm not sure what the timeline of liver failure is, but I'm hoping were put of the woods on this one

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Well, its been more than 2 weeks, and the blenny seems to be fattening up! I'm not sure what the timeline of liver failure is, but I'm hoping were put of the woods on this one

Yes - if it is putting on weight, you may be out of the woods!

Jay

 

[Joj]

IME with 3 lawn mower and 1 Molly miller, they do well and gets fat from eating. I had a red lip Blenny and it ate nori and pellets but never gain weight and just got skinnier. Didn’t last past 4 months. My current Molly miller is fat, my bi-color is just normal (not skinny, not fat) and my tail spot Blenny is slightly fat.