Lawnmower Blenny

This is a favourite in the HeldeReef Fish Room! We love our Lawnmower Blenny.

The Lawnmower Blenny (scientific name: Salarias fasciatus) is a fascinating fish with a big appetite. Hobbyists will appreciate the fish’s near-constant feeding, as the species will kick up detritus along the sandbed, improving the aquarium’s filtration.

However, keeping this fish in captivity can be a challenge. The fish has unique dietary and tank size requirements, and should only be kept with fish that share a similar temperament. In this guide, we’ll discuss how to care for the Lawnmower Blenny, and provide guidance for hobbyists considering the species as their potential next fish.

Lawnmower Blenny Care

Given a proper environment, the Lawnmower Blenny is relatively easy to care for. However, hobbyists should be aware of their dietary requirements. These fish will need more than natural algae to feed upon.

Hobbyists will want to create an environment similar to the shallow waters from which these fish can be found.

Avoid adding more than one lawnmower blenny to an aquarium, as they’ll become quite aggressive toward one another.

Reef Compatibility

Hobbyists should use caution when deciding whether or not a Lawnmower blenny should be added to a reef aquarium. Although rare, these fish can develop an appetite for coral polyps, such as those seen on acropora and montipora.

In most cases, hobbyists can mitigate any coral compatibility issues by making sure their lawnmower blenny is consistently well-fed. While it can be difficult to predict a lawnmower blennies dietary preferences, having one develop an appetite for coral is quite rare.