Are pipefish hard to care for

[sscat22]

Everyone is saying that pipefish are really hard to take care of..why is that.

 

[phish guy]

it's basically the same care as a seahorse. they are picky eaters and dont do well with competition for food or high flow.

 

[Anthony.Luciano]

I have a dragon face for about 2 months. as long as you have some pods in your tank there good not hard to care for at all and very hardy.

 

[sscat22]

ok thanks

 

[namxas]

It really depends on the species of pipe, and what condition it's in when you buy it. Many pipes don't even eat until they get into the the aquarist's tank. Wholesalers don't take the time to wean them, so they typically don't eat there, and many LFS don't take the time to insure they eat either. They get "fed" and either they eat or they starve.

Some pipes are easier than others to wean for various reasons, and still others just don't do as well in general or just plain don't make it.

What type of pipes are you considering, or what type of tank do you have? Tankmates?

Once you get pipes eating and established, they're not to tuff to keep.

 

[sscat22]

Ive decided im not going to get one, i have too much flow

 

[Anthony.Luciano]

don't give up that easily. my dragon face in one of my favorites in my reef and he's no additional work at all. eat's pods so I don't have to feed him and the flow of mp40's doesn't bother him at all since dragon face pipes slither like snakes on the sanded and rock work. occasionally i see him swim in the mid water level and even then the flow isn't much of a problem for him.

Ive decided im not going to get one, i have too much flow

 

[namxas]

As mentioned, DF's and flagfins can handle reef tanks fine.