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Lawnmower Blenny
Salarias fasciatus
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Blenniidae
📍 Indo-Pacific reef flats
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.
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.
Tank Mates
Peaceful reef fish with similar water parameters and non-aggressive temperament
Benthic invertebrate that occupies different feeding niche; may ignore blenny
Peaceful scavenger that shares algae-grazing habitat without direct competition
Algae-eating snail with similar grazing behavior; no predation risk
Peaceful bottom-dweller with different feeding strategy; minimal interaction
Small, peaceful goby that occupies similar reef niche without aggression
Common Diseases
Ich (White Spot Disease)
White spots on body and fins, scratching against rocks, labored breathing
Raise temperature gradually to 28-29°C, perform 25% water changes daily, use copper-free ich treatment; quarantine if possible
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fin edges, discoloration at fin bases
Improve water quality with frequent partial changes, use antibiotic treatment if severe, ensure adequate nutrition with quality algae foods
Starvation/Malnutrition
Weight loss, lethargy, faded coloration, refusal to eat prepared foods
Increase algae growth in tank through lighting adjustments, supplement heavily with spirulina and nori, consider moving to established algae-rich tank
Parasitic Infections
Excessive scratching, cloudy eyes, rapid gill movement, visible spots or worms
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