Starry Blennies, also known as Snowflake Blennies or Starry Lawnmower Blennies, are uniquely colored fish that can be a great addition to a saltwater tank. They go by the scientific name Salrias ramosus and their common name comes from their dark brown color with white or blue spots scattered throughout. They’re great for keeping your tank healthy as they love to eat algae, but they can provide a bit of a challenge when raising them.
In this care guide, we’ll explore what the Starry Blenny requires in terms of care and help you determine if this fish is a good fit for your tank.
Starry Blennies are generally reef safe and won’t deliberately nip at coral. However, when eating algae off of coral, the fish may inadvertently break off a piece of coral with it. So, keep an eye out if you notice that your blenny is being too aggressive when consuming algae.
Starry Blennies are normally herbivorous and require plenty of algae to be healthy. However, they may also eat certain live fauna including shrimp. A good indication of whether your Starry Blenny is well-fed is if the fish has a larger build or belly. If the fish appears too thin, this may be a sign that you’re not feeding it enough.
The natural algae that grow in your tank should provide a good base source of food, but you should also supplement this with pellets or flakes to ensure the fish’s diet is well-rounded.
Your Starry Blenny may change color almost instantly in some cases, usually when first introduced to the tank and depending on where they are within the tank. This color change may be apparent for around six months or so after first adding them to the tank.
Yes, these fish tend to jump like Lawnmower Blennies. For this reason, you should have a tall tank or tight-fit lid over your tank to prevent these fish from jumping out of the water.
Like other blennies, the Starry Blenny doesn’t like competition with others of its kind, but one male and another female or group of females could get along. If you plan on keeping more males, ensure there’s plenty of space to provide ample territory for all of them.
The price of a Starry Blenny depends on where you buy it from, the type, and the size. They’re reasonably affordable to add, with most going for around $40 to $65. There are plenty of places to shop for these fish where you can compare prices to find the best fish for the best deal.
Here are some interesting facts you may not have known about the Starry Blenny:
Similar to other types of blennies, you should avoid keeping the Starry Blenny with other blennies if possible, unless you only have one male. With a bigger tank, you may be able to keep more without issue.
The Starry Blenny does get along with other fish, though, with some potential tank mates including the following:
You can get Starry Blennies from many online fish stores, including the following:
If your tank contains plenty of algae and it has areas to perch and oversee the space, a Starry Blenny is likely to do well in your aquarium.