Very aggressive tail spot blenny

[monicalooze]

Has anyone experienced this? Right now the blenny is a 10 gal quarantine tank with two juvenile ocellaris clowns. The blenny was in the tank a couple of days before the clowns and has plenty of PVC pipe and elbows to hide in.

So far the blenny has taken a few chunks out of the larger clown's fins. How long should I let this go on before I take the blenny back? Is there any way to curb this behavior? Will it subside with time? How bad is it for the clown?

I thought tail spots were supposed to be peaceful fish. I was warned that the clowns might harass the blenny rather than the other way around. Needless to say, I'm surprised.

 

[SilverRanger]

This is very unusual as tail spot blennys are generally considered peaceful herbivores. Could this be a look-alike fish? A picture might help.

 

[monicalooze]

This is very unusual as tail spot blennys are generally considered peaceful herbivores. Could this be a look-alike fish? A picture might help.

I'll see if I can get one - he's fast. He has a spot, and the little stripes blue/orange on his face, and in the light his cheeks are purple, and he has a bit of a rainbow gradient, but he's not the brightest tail spot I've ever seen.

 

[monicalooze]

I put Betty in time out. But I DO think this is actually a tailspot. I'm going to take the PVC out of the tank and replace it with larger elbows and things to try to fix it. If not, she's going back to the store.

 

[SilverRanger]

That’s a tail spot alright. It’s recommended to keep them with live rock. If you’re just using PVC pipes the blenny might feel insecure and become aggressive. They do enjoy a good graze

 

[Nick Steele]

That is sad! They are beautiful fish and I’ve never heard of this before.

I’m on the hunt for one and will keep it in mind.

 

[monicalooze]

I can't at the moment because they are in QT with copper. Rock absorbs copper. How long can I try keeping her in the acclimation box? Does it even work?

 

[monicalooze]

That is sad! They are beautiful fish and I’ve never heard of this before.

I’m on the hunt for one and will keep it in mind.

Yeah. I'm not happy about it. But ripping fins is not a good thing!

 

[Tamberav]

Uhh on nano reef people have posted that their tail spots can be total *****. Blennies can be quite fiesty and territorial.

He probably feels cramped in QT and wants more space or at least live rock to graze on. He may be fine if he is going into a bigger tank or a place he feels there is more sufficient area for him to claim.

 

[monicalooze]

Uhh on nano reef people have posted that their tail spots can be total *****. Blennies can be quite fiesty and territorial.

He probably feels cramped in QT and wants more space or at least live rock to graze on. He may be fine if he is going into a bigger tank or a place he feels there is more sufficient area for him to claim.

Interesting. So much of what I read said they make great nano fish. What are my options until QT is over? I can't keep the blenny in the acclimation box for two weeks and I can't add live rock.

 

[Tamberav]

Get some craft mesh and divide the tank down the middle. They sell it for like 99 cents.

My leopard wrasse has been in its acclimation box for a few weeks now tbh. I guess it depends how stressful the fish is acting.

 

[DeeBee]

I had a Linear Blenny that was flat out mean. Was in a 36 gallon tank with plenty of live rock but was super territorial and attacked fish, especially my Yellow Watchman Goby. I rehomed him but not before he ripped the Goby's bottom jaw loose.

Blennies look cute but sometimes you can get one with a bad attitude. Either get some mesh to seperate the tank as suggested above, or put some rock in the acclimation box and keep it in there. Tailspots are so tiny I can't imagine it's going to mind being in the box a couple weeks if it has places to hide.

 

[monicalooze]

I ended up swapping the blenny out for a new on at the LFS. The difference in personality is night and day. Too much damage to my clowns to try to fix it.