Blue Stripe pipes - boy-on-boy action, how violent?

[Scridifer]

Hi

As the title says really, I'm wondering how violent two males would be to each other and how soon it would start?

Also does it only apply to mature males or do immature males also exhibit this behaviour.

A bit of background:

I have had two small blue stripes in my 3' mixed reef tank for 5-6 weeks now. I bought them as a M/F pair (and I trust my LFS implicitly, they are great but mistakes can happen!). Before putting them in being of the nerdy persuasion I got my magnifying glass out and noticed what I would call very tiny bumps on both their snouts ( a sign of malehood?).
They are both feeding very well on frozen (my LFS doesn't sell them until they are) but seem to have little to do with each other. Occasionally they meet up and there is a bit of posturing and snaking about (not actual coiling around each other), then usually the smaller (about 1 1/2") darts off, followed by the larger (just under2") rather half-heartedly and they go thir own ways.

To my mind the possibilities are:

I have a male and a female but they're not ready to pair/mate yet.

I have two males but they're too immature to fight to the death yet.

Apologies for the long-winded post and If you've managed to get this far thanks, and any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Chris

 

[BFG]

The stronger will bully the new comer to no end. It doesn't matter if it's another species of pipefish. My bluestripe do not tolerate another pipefish whether it is bigger than him. I have tried mixing different species but the older bluestripe always outlast the newcomer. My dt is a 120g.

 

[Scridifer]

Hi and thanks for posting.

That's the thing, I was expecting if they are two males it would be all out war, which it definitely isn't. There is no continuous chasing, basically they are co-existing oblivious to the other.

Chris

 

[TamiW]

Females will have very small bumps on their noses, but they're really only discernible with a magnifying glass or looking at a close up photo. I've also seen females exhibit aggression towards each other, though no where near as much as two males. I would suspect you have two females but an immature pair isn't out of the question either.

 

[nonimmigrant]

The stronger will bully the new comer to no end. It doesn't matter if it's another species of pipefish. My bluestripe do not tolerate another pipefish whether it is bigger than him. I have tried mixing different species but the older bluestripe always outlast the newcomer. My dt is a 120g.

I've not had this issue with my Blue Stripe with other species of pipes; in fact, my big male hangs out with my multistripes all the time. He does not tolerate, however, other Blue Stripes and has beaten a few to death.

 

[Scridifer]

Hi Tami

Thanks for your comments.

Re the female with tiny bumps that's exactly what my LFS said so it's nice to get a bit of reassurance.

Fingers crossed for the immature pair. Any idea at what sort of size they would commence 'proper' courtship?

Chris

 

[small alien]

The stronger will bully the new comer to no end. It doesn't matter if it's another species of pipefish. My bluestripe do not tolerate another pipefish whether it is bigger than him. I have tried mixing different species but the older bluestripe always outlast the newcomer. My dt is a 120g.

My male bluestripe hangs with my banded all the time.

 

[DanU]

I have heard many reports of aggression with Wild Caught Blue Striped Pipes. Interestingly enough, Captive Bred specimens seem to be much less aggressive.

Dan

 

[Scridifer]

I have heard many reports of aggression with Wild Caught Blue Striped Pipes. Interestingly enough, Captive Bred specimens seem to be much less aggressive.

Dan

Hi Dan,

That's interesting, pretty sure mine are CB. Still unsure what I've got!

Chris

 

[Scridifer]

A bit of an update:

They're still co-existing pretty much keeping to themselves. If they do meet there's a bit of posturing and kind of mirror positioning and then the smaller one darts off, the larger one might pursue half-heartedly or not even bother at all.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Chris

 

[small alien]

Do you think you could catch one if you needed to?

I would tend to watch and see how it plays out as long as one can be removed before it gets injured or killed. Common wisdom is m/f pairs only but maybe you have and exception. How long has it been?

 

[Scridifer]

Do you think you could catch one if you needed to?

I would tend to watch and see how it plays out as long as one can be removed before it gets injured or killed. Common wisdom is m/f pairs only but maybe you have and exception. How long has it been?

Hi and thanks for posting. They've been in the tank since the end of October, no signs of violence and they both pretty much go their own ways. IMO the larger is interested in the smaller but certainly isn't harrassing it, while the smaller seems wary of the larger.

Chris

 

[DanU]

FWIW, I currently have a little over 30 CB at around 2 1/2 inches, in a 15 gallon tank. A mix of males and females. No signs of aggression. This of course may change if they were paired up in a larger tank and had established territories. Will have to wait and see.

Dan

 

[Scridifer]

FWIW, I currently have a little over 30 CB at around 2 1/2 inches, in a 15 gallon tank. A mix of males and females. No signs of aggression. This of course may change if they were paired up in a larger tank and had established territories. Will have to wait and see.

Dan

Interesting!

Chris

 

[small alien]

FWIW, I currently have a little over 30 CB at around 2 1/2 inches, in a 15 gallon tank. A mix of males and females. No signs of aggression. This of course may change if they were paired up in a larger tank and had established territories. Will have to wait and see.

Dan

Awesome. Do you have a thread about this?

 

[DanU]

I don't. Just what is here. I got these from another captive breeder who is having great success with them. He is tutoring me along.

Dan

 

[small alien]

That is very cool. You should start a thread in the pipe forum if you have time. I'm sure there would be lots of interest in hearing your methods and results. Cheers.

 

[Paul B]

I have a male and a female but they're not ready to pair/mate yet.

I have two males but they're too immature to fight to the death yet.

2 males fight right away but mine do not pay attention to the banded pipefish either. I have had mated pairs of bluestripes for quite a few years and I recently lost the male. He was about 5 and that is about their lifespan. In an hour I will be picking up another male and female. My remaining female is also about 5 so I want to replace her as a breeder before she is too old.
They spawn every month and a half or so.
The males have definate little hooks on their snouts

They don't pay any attention to this guy

 

[Paul B]

I just added another pair of bluestripes. Here is an old one and a new smaller male at the feeder

 

[Scridifer]

2 males fight right away but mine do not pay attention to the banded pipefish either. I have had mated pairs of bluestripes for quite a few years and I recently lost the male. He was about 5 and that is about their lifespan. In an hour I will be picking up another male and female. My remaining female is also about 5 so I want to replace her as a breeder before she is too old.
They spawn every month and a half or so.
The males have definate little hooks on their snouts

They don't pay any attention to this guy

Hi Paul

Thanks very much for your comments.

They definitely don't fight, so I think I can rule out two males then.

Whereabouts on the snout is the hook? I presume on the tip?

All the best,

Chris