Tesselated Blenny Discussion (1 Viewer)

[jamesw]

I think it would be nice to answer some of these questions before everyone starts willy-nilly collecting these fish and puting them in their tanks:

What do they eat?

How many are there and how many can we collect? Are they endangered?

Are they agressive towards conspecifics?

Will they survive longterm in a reeftank (the gulf gets cold in the winter)

ETC.

Cheers
James

 

[sultros]

Im curious as to where these are being collected.

Obviously we are talking off-shore.

 

[Guest]

Blenny

I know that this fish loves to eat barnicles and algea when we are out collecting these fish I would smash alot of barnicles and they will go into a feeding freenzy. I have been feeding mine flake and brine and they are doing great. They do not mess with any other fish except to defend its home.
These fish do very well with other blennies. I have had a few for a long time with no problems. I have seen this fish bite at the foot of a clam, but this is rare it did not mess with the other clams in the tank so keep an eye on that. This is one of the most abundant fish on the rig legs so I do not think taking them will have any long term effects. If you have any more questions I will do my best to answer them.


I have had a lot of people wanting these blennies but very few have picked them up. I will offer the last 3 blennies for 30$ EACH and it will be first come, I will not hold them. If you want one you can PM me to set a time to pick them up, I live in Katy @ Grandparkway and I-10.


Thanks Jason

 

[Guest]

collection site = sams boat richmond, the barnacles on the boat.

collection method = look threw the trash and find blennies stuck in discarded beer bottles

As far as environmental concerns, there are plenty of blennies and plenty of beer for everyone.

 

[jamesw]

I've dove a lot of rigs in the gulf. I don't agree that there are plenty of blennies. Some rigs it is hard to find any tesseltated blennies at all! Other blennies may be there, but not many tesselated. If you have to hunt for them and find 4 or 5 tesselated and take them - then how many are left on that rig? One, none? Will other blennies come from other rigs to repopulate the one you just decimated? Do you even know? If you don't know, then is it right to take them?

That's why I raised the questions.

Cheers
James

 

[Cakepro]

Hi James ~

I'm confused...you say there aren't plenty of blennies but I thought you were on board with Mike Redman when he proposed bringing fame and fortune to MARSH by collecting and marketing these blennies. Was I mistaken that you supported his project?

 

[jamesw]

Hi Sherry,

If you'll recall, the first part of the project is a habitat survey and assessment. We would also want to collect a few blennies for the club (NOT for individuals) to see if they can be bred in captivity. The goal of the project is to bring "fame and fortune" to MARSH by learning more about these fish - not by overcollecting them. That can be acheived by studying a few in captivity, documenting how many of them are at each rig, finding out what they eat, finding out what other fish they are compatible with, etc.

I don't advocate uncontrolled collection of these fish, because it would be easy to wipe out the nearshore rigs like GA 393

I'm glad to see that there is still so much interest in these beautiful fish. I've been working "on call" offshore this summer, so have not been able to participate in the tesselated blenny project yet. If and when a trip is scheduled, I'd like to participate. I can dive, photograph, and collect.

Cheers
James

 

[Guest]

blennies travel by rip/weed lines, this is how they populate the rigs.

as far as populations.........I am sure since this isnt a game fish, they are not on the extinction list.

the only thing they are is food for other rig leg inhabitants.

is it right to buy a tang if hawaii/fiji is harvesting them by the thousands everyday?

 

[pernelf]

So the people who have just collected, where did you collect them from?

 

[jamesw]

Hi numbnutz,

I think all hobbyists agree that: It is not right to keep a fish that was collected unsustainably.

That's interesting to know how these fish populate the rigs. Can you please point me to the research where you learned this, so that I can follow up. I'd like to learn more.

Were your blennies collected sustainably? Did you collect all of them from the rig that you hit or did you leave some? Did you count how many were on the rig, then take a percentage of that? If you collected every one that you could find on the rig, then I'd say you "wiped it out" or collected the fish unsustainably. In other words, you may have created local extinction, which IMO is not a good thing. It's easy to say "I'm sure there were more there that I didn't see," or "I'm sure more will spontaneously appear next year from currents and weedlines." But dou know that?

This is why I'm in favor of a club sponsored study and collection project. Perhaps we can answer these questions and make a real contribution to the science and also to our hobby.

Cheers
James

 

[AggieBrandon]

I thought the TBP (tesselated blenny project) was dead and gone...haven't seen hide or hair of Mr. Redman since that meeting way back when....If anything ever happens I am curious to see how it goes.

Brandon

 

[Cakepro]

It would be nice to hear whatever happened to that idea. I've been curious myself. All communication between him and his committee completely died after Mike made his presentation at the March 2004 meeting.

Sherri

 

[AggieBrandon]

Hell if I had a boat I would go out there and do some research myself....put my management ecology degree to some good use I have lots of population analysis tools (software) and what not as well as a few good population estimators. Now if I could only find where I put them

Brandon

 

[Guest]

if you wanna pick on someone.....pick on the gulf shrimpers........they kill so much shtuff.

nevermind jamesw, quit highjacking the post.

 

[jamesw]

I plan to go out later this year on my friends boat Per Diem which is based in Surfside at Bridge Harbor. It's a 35' Bertram twin diesel.

Like I said, I haven't been able to come to the MARSH meetings because I've been working offshore. If Mike's not heading up this project anymore, I'd be happy to help out.

Cheers
James

 

[jamesw]

Since numbnutz is worried that I am highjacking his post, can a moderator split this off and move it to the appropriate forum?

Thanks
James

 

[Guest]

this is still a for sale forum.....take your environmental concerns to another forum.

 

[pernelf]

ohhhh, cat fight

 

[jamesw]

Yes, that's why I asked the moderator to split off this post numbnutz.

Cheers
James

 

[Guest]

jamesw.....you can study a blennie all you want for thirty dollars, contact menwaylo