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FishbeginnerSaltwater

Lawnmower Blenny

Salarias fasciatus

AnimaliaChordataActinopterygiiBlenniidae

📍 Indo-Pacific reef flats

Ask Finn

The go-to algae control fish for reef tanks — relentlessly grazes film algae and hair algae off rocks and glass. Camouflaged brown-grey with warty skin and charismatic perching behaviour.

Size4.5"
Min Tank30g
peaceful
Zonebottom

Care Guide

Diet

Lawnmower blennies are dedicated herbivores that graze continuously on film algae, diatoms, and hair algae throughout the day. Supplement their natural grazing with high-quality spirulina flakes, nori sheets, and algae wafers 2-3 times weekly. Without sufficient algae growth in the tank, they may refuse prepared foods and slowly starve, so maintaining some algae presence is essential for long-term health.

Behavior

These charismatic bottom-dwellers spend most of their time perched on rocks and glass, methodically grazing with their sucker-like mouths. They are peaceful and solitary, showing minimal aggression toward other fish but may become territorial toward other blennies if space is limited. Their warty, camouflaged appearance and quirky posturing make them highly entertaining to observe.

Breeding

Breeding lawnmower blennies in captivity is extremely rare and poorly documented. They require specific environmental triggers and pair bonding that are difficult to replicate in home aquariums. Hobbyists should not expect breeding success and should source specimens from reputable aquaculture suppliers.

Common Diseases

Ich (White Spot Disease)

Symptoms

White spots on body and fins, scratching against rocks, labored breathing

Treatment

Raise temperature gradually to 28-29°C, perform 25% water changes daily, use copper-free ich treatment; quarantine if possible

Fin Rot

Symptoms

Frayed or deteriorating fin edges, discoloration at fin bases

Treatment

Improve water quality with frequent partial changes, use antibiotic treatment if severe, ensure adequate nutrition with quality algae foods

Starvation/Malnutrition

Symptoms

Weight loss, lethargy, faded coloration, refusal to eat prepared foods

Treatment

Increase algae growth in tank through lighting adjustments, supplement heavily with spirulina and nori, consider moving to established algae-rich tank

Parasitic Infections

Symptoms

Excessive scratching, cloudy eyes, rapid gill movement, visible spots or worms

Treatment

Quarantine affected fish, treat with appropriate antiparasitic medication, maintain pristine water conditions during recovery

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Quick Facts

pH
8.1–8.4
diet
herbivore — film algae, spirulina, nori
maxSize
5 inches
minTankSize
30 gallons
temperature
75–82°F (24–28°C)

Temperature

75–82°F

24–28°C

Stats

Community tips0
Kept by0 hobbyists