Tribal Blenny Issues?

[ShAgMaN]

A couple moths ago I picked up a tribal blenny - without doing any research. I know, I know.

So within the last month I've noticed him nipping at various corals. I've also noticed some damage on the base of some sps. Plus I lost a nice paly polyp which was mounted to acrylic plug (might have just came off), and even some damage to a gorg. The weird thing is, they get some damage, then seem to recover. Its like he is eating some then desides he doesn't like it. I looked him up online and they don't appear to be a problem - but I'm pretty sure he's damaging my coral.

He has grown quite a bit, but he hardly eats when I feed - but he does eat some.

I've never had to trap a fish, so I'm wondering how I should go about this...

[Big_Pun]

fish traps are the best way but may be hard since he doesnt eat, could try using frag of his fav coral as bait. ill admit ive used a small trout hook with barb grinded off and mysis but again only works with food agressive fish. again check and see if mrcob or the maast trap is around cobs trap is small and can also be mounted to glass with magnets.

[LuckySingh]

i hve the Cobs trap right now ..hvent had a chance to use it....I am gne try to use it tomorrow.....

[Mr Cob]

there you go Shaggy...use the trap Jack made...we have been passing it around for awhile

[ShAgMaN]

Thanks Cob man, I'll give it a shot after Lucky (if no one else is waiting for it). Hopefully I can snag him, but I have a feeling it's not gonna be easy.

[justahobby]

Does he have a favorite rock/ hole he hides in that you could pull out of the tank?

[ShAgMaN]

He does hang out at certain areas, but not in them...except at night I suppose. But there's really no way I can move my rock. Problem is, I think the trap might be too large to place on the rock without jacking coral up. I think I need a tiny trap, or a laser gun, JK!

[Mr Cob]

we have discussed the toothpick harpoon back in the day when I had a few nasty damsels...Jack was going to make something. lol

you could always try the inverted plastic coke bottle trick. Put some meat in it...leave it near his den overnight, when he goes in he hopefully won't be able to get out....

[ShAgMaN]

The traps fairly big 6" long, but I'm thinking I might be able to place it above some powerheads that he picks algae off.

[Mr Cob]

that was going to be our small sized trap! lol

[justahobby]

While waiting for the trap you could try an empty coco worm tube. Position by his hang out area and once starts using it, put a net over it and pull it out of the tank.

[ShAgMaN]

that was going to be our small sized trap! lol

LOL, PM me if you ever get the proto-type made.

[ShAgMaN]

While waiting for the trap you could try an empty coco worm tube. Position by his hang out area and once starts using it, put a net over it and pull it out of the tank.

That might be crazy enough to work.

[justahobby]

Conveniently Blennies prefer enclosed places like coco tubes. One of the easier fish to catch IME. Clowns being a close second if they are hosting an anemone.

[CoryDude]

They do not go well with sps. Had to remove about 50% of my rockwork and spent 2 hours with a net to catch him.

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?66453-Guess-who-s-cute-and-likes-to-eat-SPS&highlight=tribal+blenny

[ShAgMaN]

They do not go well with sps. Had to remove about 50% of my rockwork and spent 2 hours with a net to catch him.

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?66453-Guess-who-s-cute-and-likes-to-eat-SPS&highlight=tribal+blenny

Man, I wish I would have seen this earlier. I gotta catch him ASAP.

Did you SPS recover?

[CoryDude]

Yeah, I did the same thing as you. I've had blennies before and never had any issues with them. So I didn't think twice when I took one home.

The bare spots started showing up 48 hrs after I got it. At first I thought it was some kind of rtn event, then I saw the little bugger munching on just about every acro I had. After I removed him all the missing tissue on the sps healed over after a couple of weeks. Get him out as fast as you can.

[ShAgMaN]

LOL, PM me if you ever get the proto-type made.

Now I'm not kidding. Is it possible to have a smaller trap made for purchase?

[ShAgMaN]

Now I'm not kidding. Is it possible to have a smaller trap made for purchase?

...I mean a smaller actual trap...but I'm not eliminating any other means. If I move my rock I'm destroying coral.

[txav8r]

How small?

[Big_Pun]

I have small trout hook fit on my pinky nail. is aggressive towards food?

[ShAgMaN]

How small?

I was thinking around 3" long X 1 1/2 inches wide and high.

[ShAgMaN]

I have small trout hook fit on my pinky nail. is aggressive towards food?

No, thats the problem. In fact, he's not even always out - pretty shy. I think my best shot is traping him by my k4's that he nips on. I have too many other chromis and tangs that attack food.

[CoryDude]

That may be your best bet. Wait till he's near a powerhead, preferrably in a corner. It took me almost 3 hrs to catch mine.

[ShAgMaN]

Jack, if you can make a smaller trap I wil pay you. I'm seriously contemplating adding a fish that will eat him - though unlikely. Of course I'll loose some other livestock, but I don't want to destroy my reef. He's gnawed hard on my milli base, but all my other sps are ok...for now. However, today I noticed him nipping on my bright purp gorg - unacceptable.

[txav8r]

I'll see what I can do.

[ShAgMaN]

Thanks Jack Attack.