Re:lawnmower blennie

Hi ageber,

The only blennies recommended for seahorse systems are the non algae eating blennies like the Midas Blenny.

Lawnmower Blennies are not cleaners like cleaner shrimp are cleaners. They are known to be territorial. He neeeds to be moved whether he is cleaning them and removing algae or intentionally picking at them. The act of cleaning them alone could hurt them if not very gentle and it is most certainly stressful for them to be picked at. Stress can definitely lead to disease.

As for removing him you have a task at hand. I have ripped apart many a tank to catch fish I was told were appropriate that actually were not. If he has a rock he likes to hide in you could try removing that if it is close to the top of your rockscape then you lucked out. There are fish traps out there but I have never used one and have no idea if they work. I was never wiling to leave the offending fish long enough to try and find one of the traps. If I could not catch the fish after a few attempts then I went straight to tearing the tank down. I looked at it as an opportunity to re do my aquascape like I would re decorate one of the rooms in my house.

Unfortunately some LFS are notorious for giving mis information. In the future check here with us first.

Wish I had better news for you.

HTH,

Leslie