Lawnmower blenny
Salarias fasciatus
FishSaltwater
- Care level
- Easy
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Reef safe
- Yes
- Minimum tank
- 200 L
- Maximum size
- 12 cm
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C
- pH
- 8–8.4
- Diet
- Herbivore
Care at a glance
The lawnmower blenny is the reef tank's mower: a stocky little fish with bulging eyes and a comical face that sits on the rock all day, scraping hair algae off in short bites. It moves across the bottom in hops rather than swimming, which makes it even more entertaining.
It only works if there really are algae. In a clean tank it finds too little and visibly loses weight — a sunken belly is the first sign. Supplement with nori and algae paste in that case. It is fierce towards its own kind and other bottom-dwelling blennies, so keep just one. It leaves corals alone, though it may occasionally sit down on one to rest.
Good to know
Related species
Values are mainstream hobbyist guidance, not gospel — always watch what your own animals need.
In the BlubHub app you link your inhabitants to this database and see the care info next to your own water parameters.