blue stripe pipe pair

[danfrith]

hi, i have a pair of blue stripe pipefish in my 12 gal. nanocube and they seem healthy and i feed them once a day frozen mysis. But over the past couple of months ive had them they've only spawned maybe 3 times and every time they do the male only ends up carrying about 10-20 eggs and the day after spawning i look and the male isnt carrying the eggs.Any thoughts about whats going on? thanks

 

[hydroid]

hmmm, I'm at a loss too.

What else is in the tank?

I had heard some pipes will eat their fry, but don't know if that is so. If it is true, I suppose they could eat the eggs too.

 

[danfrith]

just a few sps and a pistol shrimp,hermits,snails

 

[Molly09]

My banded pipefish drops the eggs aswell. They spawn once a month. The longest he has lasted is 3 days. I check the water quality but that doesn't seem to be causing it- my seahorses in the same tank are up to their second brood...

Sorry I couldn't help, but yours arn't the only ones! I am curious to hear the answer.

 

[hydroid]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7869674#post7869674 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Molly09
I am curious to hear the answer.

Me too.

 

[danfrith]

well, my female bluestripe pipe looks the fatest shes ever been so hoping for a good large spawn this time. Ill keep you guys posted.

 

[mano]

They are most likely eating the fry. I have multibanded pipes that mate every 10 days or so. Some of the eggs get knocked off I believe during development, and I've been able to collect anywhere from 2-50 fry, depending on when they hatch out. They are normally hatched out in the morning hours and if I don't get to them in time the parents will eat them.

Good luck with yours! What do you plan on feeding the fry if you are able to collect any?

Christine

 

[Molly09]

mano how long is the pregnancy?

 

[mano]

Molly,

The pregnancy is about a week.

 

[lfduty]

not long

 

[danfrith]

well, it looks like the male is carrying eggs again and it looks like alot but if you dont look close enough you wouldnt even notice them.

 

[danfrith]

still carrying!

 

[cateyes]

anybody got any pics of their pipes? i'm thinking about setting up a nano for a few....

how did you guys end up with a M/F pair? are they easy to sex or did you just get lucky?

should i get several and just hope a pair will form??

thanks a lot,,, lisa

 

[danfrith]

i got my pair because our lfs always gets them in in pairs. bluestripe pipefish are fairly easy to sex. Males usually have a few little tufts of skin on the top of thier snout, and they also have pouch that is very easy to see. also males will fight to the death.

 

[Molly09]

Goodluck I hope he goes full term!