Scooter Blenny

[JustAddSalt]

So... I screwed up lol. I went to the LFS to buy a replacement hermit crab and saw a Scooter Blenny on sale. Of course, I had absolutely no clue that it was not actually a Blenny and Dragonet otherwise I would not have purchased it. I know I should have done research and not made an impulse buy so please don't harp on that, mistake realized. For $7.00 I figured what the heck. Well of course now I realize what a huge mistake I made so my options are A: Take him back to the store or B: keep him and try to feed him. What do you guys suggest, and are there any hints/tips?

[JaneG]

So... I screwed up lol. I went to the LFS to buy a replacement hermit crab and saw a Scooter Blenny on sale. Of course, I had absolutely no clue that it was not actually a Blenny and Dragonet otherwise I would not have purchased it. I know I should have done research and not made an impulse buy so please don't harp on that, mistake realized. For $7.00 I figured what the heck. Well of course now I realize what a huge mistake I made so my options are A: Take him back to the store or B: keep him and try to feed him. What do you guys suggest, and are there any hints/tips?

Have you seen if it eats at all? Scooter blennies are generally more willing to eat frozen food. You will still need to feed it multiple times a day as they have a fast metabolism (2 would probably be ok..) and even then spot feed it. If you're willing to put up with that...try it and see what happens?

[ry05coupe]

Take him back.

[JustAddSalt]

Take him back.

 

Yeah... think I'm gonna take him back. He won't fare any better at the store but at least my hands will be clean. I cannot commit to feeding the little guy as much as he needs nor as often as he needs. Shame they label them Blennies! I know it's still my fault for not researching but good lord, what the heck is Petco doing selling something like that?

[JaneG]

Yeah... think I'm gonna take him back. He won't fare any better at the store but at least my hands will be clean. I cannot commit to feeding the little guy as much as he needs nor as often as he needs. Shame they label them Blennies! I know it's still my fault for not researching but good lord, what the heck is Petco doing selling something like that?

No offense, but it's your fault and in no way Petco's. Scooter blenny is their common name (even LiveAquaria refers to them as this). I wouldn't label them as impossible to care for, especially when you consider that most tanks are at least moderately sized. Additionally the ones I have encountered usually accept prepared food to some degree, but need to be spot fed. I agree that you should probably take it back if you aren't going to feed it multiple times a day, but it really is your fault for not researching at all... a simple Google search shows that they are indeed dragonets.

[JustAddSalt]

No offense, but it's your fault and in no way Petco's. Scooter blenny is their common name (even LiveAquaria refers to them as this). I wouldn't label them as impossible to care for, especially when you consider that most tanks are at least moderately sized. Additionally the ones I have encountered usually accept prepared food to some degree, but need to be spot fed. I agree that you should probably take it back if you aren't going to feed it multiple times a day, but it really is your fault for not researching at all... a simple Google search shows that they are indeed dragonets.

Yes... as you can see from my last statement I admit fault. Just a shame they got labeled that way.

[HVani]

I know what you mean.

 

I was at my LFS the other day looking at the frag tank. There staring back at me was a Nautilus. I mean seriously what hobbyist can take care of a creature like this? It was so sad to see. He already didn't look good. They get stuff like that in all the time and will willing sell it to anyone with the money/ You really need to educate yourself before buying anything.

[JustAddSalt]

I know what you mean.

 

I was at my LFS the other day looking at the frag tank. There staring back at me was a Nautilus. I mean seriously what hobbyist can take care of a creature like this? It was so sad to see. He already didn't look good. They get stuff like that in all the time and will willing sell it to anyone with the money/ You really need to educate yourself before buying anything.

 

See... I wish they wouldn't do that. And I know better than to just buy something without researching, but I did it anyway. I will never do that again, the fish store still would have had him tomorrow after I had done research. What a pain its going to be getting him out of the tank, I can only blame myself.

[mike c]

Wow, don't rip on the guy. IMO, they're not as hard to keep as let in to be, same for mandarins. I have one of each in my tank. I spot feed mysis & brine once a day, and toss in some live pods every 2-3 months. Keep it. If he doesn't take to frozen in a few days, then take it back. Never know unless you try.

[JustAddSalt]

Alright. I will see what I can do for a few days. I really do like him and if he will eat, I'll work with it. Do I just purchase the frozen food, thaw it in some tank water and then use a syringe?

[JaneG]

Wow, don't rip on the guy. IMO, they're not as hard to keep as let in to be, same for mandarins. I have one of each in my tank. I spot feed mysis & brine once a day, and toss in some live pods every 2-3 months. Keep it. If he doesn't take to frozen in a few days, then take it back. Never know unless you try.

I didn't rip on him if you are referring to me...I mostly pointed out that Petco wasn't to blame and that there are no if, ands, or buts about it: scooter blennies are fine in a lot of tanks and it's ok if Petco calls them by their common name - it's different than a store stocking, say, nudibranches. True - they are easier than mandarins to keep, but they are still dragonets. They should be fed multiple times a day to maintain their body weight with 2 being the lowest I would be comfortable with personally . However, if it is eating with a lot of gusto (doubtful), then you might get away with once a day. I know this is a bit of a false analogy, but I see it like this: a human could certainly survive on one meal a day, but they would prefer to be fed 3+ times a day.

 

JustAddSalt,

What you need to do is buy some frozen food (I would try mysis shrimp first...it might eat brine but it's not very healthy food) and thaw some of it in a cup with tank water. I then pour out the water in the cup, throw it away, and then add fresh water from the tank to the cup with the food. Otherwise, you will be adding a lot of nasty stuff into your tank. You could soak the food in garlic to entice its appetite as well. Take a syrine or something (I use a long eyedropper though), suck up some food, and blow it out near the fish. I'd turn off all flow while feeding as these guys like to peck off from the substrate...hopefully you don't have too competitive of tankmates. Good luck! I hope it eats for you!

[wartskin]

Yeah... think I'm gonna take him back. He won't fare any better at the store but at least my hands will be clean. I cannot commit to feeding the little guy as much as he needs nor as often as he needs. Shame they label them Blennies! I know it's still my fault for not researching but good lord, what the heck is Petco doing selling something like that?

Keep em......its a cool Lil fish

I hate seeing people bring back fish to the fish store....depending on circumstances, but anyway point being if you buy it it's yours! I don't wanna happen to buy your stressed out fish that chances of survival are now slim... this is nothing torwards anyone in particular, just venting, I hate everyone equally

[SWAG]

i say keep it they really look like a very cool and fun fish.

who knows,its you train him you may have better luck training other dragonets.

and you can share your success with us!

i hope everything work well and he accepts frozen.

best of luck.