My blenny is GONE! UPDATE in last post

[Europhyllia]

My poor little blenny is gone. :(
I liked him so much.
I did notice the small blue/gold blenny was coming to check out the big blue midas blenny a few times but I didn't see any aggression and the midas actually looked very happy - cruising round all the time, waiting for food, etc.

But today I haven't seen him at all.

I just read that they're prone to jumping and my aquarium is open top. :(

Yes we got cats and kids and I don't see him anywhere but I bet he'd be a quick cat treat anyway if he jumped towards the front...

Not sure what to do. I don't want a canopy but I may want another blenny in the future.

What's the newest and least ugly in tank covers nowadays?

[Jarob]

Which blenny the midas?! thats so sad you just got him!! Im picking up one tonight!! Anyways I forget where I was looking at this, either nanoreef or RC but someone makes clear screen tops for aquariums that block no light and are safe, etc. Im sure looking around online you can find that clear nylon screen she uses; I plan on doing it soon too.

[Jarob]

just looked for a sec and found this, not the one I saw but very informative!

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=212941

[Europhyllia]

Yes the midas. I'll look for the clear screen thing. I found one but it says the clear insulation screen is available only as a full roll for $100 at Lowes' . I am hoping some clever marine aquarist is selling them in smaller pieces for a little profit and so that we all don't have to buy full roles.
He seemed really chipper and not shy at all. I didn't realize they jump when they get startled.
I've fed them already twice but it hasn't come out (if it is still hiding somewhere in the tank.)

[Jarob]

That guy from that thread I posted is selling cut portions since he had to buy the entire roll, probably what im gonna be doing!

[Europhyllia]

Thanks Jarob! I emailed him.
Still hoping that the blenny will show up later today. He was so active and confident yesterday. I still saw him early this morning. And now NOTHING!

[txav8r]

Instead of screening the top, Just make some walls out of Acrylic that extend 3 or 4 inches above the tank sides. Kind of like a fence.

You still will have an open top and if a fish jumps he should hit the wall and fall back in.

[Gseclipse02]

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j11/gseclipse02/88888.jpg

bad photoshop but yea lol

[Europhyllia]

lol. nice! outdoor living with a tank that looks familiar.
I would have to leave one side open though for my cooling fan.
waiting for my husband to get home so he can take the kids and I can search the sump more thoroughly...

[Europhyllia]

my clear screen from dave is shipping tomorrow already. now to figure out how to make an easy to remove top for a 6ft tank since I need it open quite frequenlt for my target feeding...

[marcusgonzales210]

still no luck? Aren't Midas Blennies venemous?

[marcusgonzales210]

sorry I was thinking about Canary Blennies.

[txmaverickmh]

Karin,

Try and reach out to Jason at Aquarium Designs...he knows some local lady that makes custom screen tops that were very easy to put on and remove, and he said that she was very reasonable cost-wise. He said that the screens do not hardly effect the PAR level of your lights, and they fit snuggly into the slots where glass-tops normally would fit.

MIchael

[ErikH]

Sorry to hear Karin, alot if times they hide for days

[Europhyllia]

Thanks Michael. I already ordered the clear screen but might go with that person if my own design ends up being really klutzy.

Erik, I have heard that they hide for awhile but this one was all over the place, begging for food, sitting on the mag float looking at us, constantly swimming in the open, etc. It was eating well and coming out as soon as food hit the water. It was looking at me with his big blue eyes waiting for more food.
If he was going to hide I figured it would be in the first few days. Not out and about right away and then start hiding?

I still saw him in his hole early in the morning. Then I left for a few hours. The cats were home alone. When I came back the blenny was gone. Still hasn't resurfaced. :(

[Europhyllia]

Birdie II is safe now. Thanks Jarob. Great instructions and the guy shipped the clear screen right away.
I did it with one center brace and two panels on a 6ft tank.
Since my tank is not drilled the overflow and return made it necessary to come up with no so snazzy detours (the screen corners aren't really made to work both ways) and I will tweak one side a bit more tomorrow but so far it looks like a really nice solution.
The tops fit flush into the tank frame just like glass tops would so that's very attractive.
It's also very light weight and come on and off easily.
http://www.dominopads.com/screen.jpg

For those of you wondering:
Birdie I never returned :(
My little guy kept asking where Birdie was hiding so THANKS to Reefs2U Birdie II came out of hiding :D
Birdie II also underwent a most miraculous metamorphosis and turned from a blue/yellow Birdie I into a stunning golden yellow Birdie II after her couple of days of hiding... ;)

[ShAgMaN]

LOL, years ago when my daughter was just a pup we took a fairy wrasse to the pet hospital cause it was sick. We used the hiding excuse a couple times already and she wouldn’t give up the search - plus that darn wrasse was a rarity.

[ShAgMaN]

BTW nice Mod, and good to hear Birdie is back.:wink_smile:

[Europhyllia]

I usually do tell him the truth but we have a very elderly cat and an ancient guinea pig. I think those two will probably not be with us much longer. So just in case the GP and the cat die soon I didn't want a dead fish on top of it... :o