Calling all pipefish keepers

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I'd like to know what the long-term success rate is with various species of pipes. I've had very good luck so far with my bluestripes (aside from my occasional "transferred hypochondria" where in I imagine GBD when it isn't there), but it's only been about five months.

I know there are those out there who have been doing this longer than me, and I see a lot of startup threads with pics of new pipes. What interests me is how many have been successful with these guys for longer than a year.

Please tell me what kind of pipefish you keep and how long you've kept it. Pics are always beneficial.

Also, if you think you've figured out the magic formula for success, that would be helpful too. :) Especially for dragon face pipes, which are my latest fixation.
 
I love these little creatures. What do you feed them with. I am scared to have them until i learn more about them.

Thanks
 
My bluestripes completely graze on the live rock for subsistance.

I occasionally put in live Tiggerpods when I can find them locally or when I get around to ordering them. Both pipes went crazy the first time I put them in, but to be honest, I don't know if they even eat them anymore. I don't see them snicking out of the water column. That may just be because they prefer to eat off the rock. My experience with cyclopeeze has been the same. They took it at first, but don't seem interested anymore. They ignore the mysis (probably too big) I occasionally put in for the brittle star and peppermint shrimp.

It's a small tank (20L), but it's got a hang-on back refugium (modified AC 300 HOB filter) with chaeto, and they have no competition for pods. They seem fat and healthy.

However, if you had told me when I bought them that they would never take prepared foods, I'm not sure I would have had the nerve to get them in the first place.

I'm now considering a pair of dragon face pipes for my 40-gallon reef setup. Still nervous about the prospect of having them reject prepared foods and survive only on what pods can be produced in the system, but I'm more inclined to try it.
 
I have had good luck with Dragon Face (recent) and banded and Northern pipefish. The key for the banded was to get him on Mysis. Northern pipefish seems to eat anything I want even my wild caught pipe. The dragon face lives on freshly hatched brine shrimp and the natural pods I have in my tank. The others I have had for a longtime but the dragon face has only been for four months. I'll keep you posted on how he does.
 
No problem.

Another thing I forgot to mention is I pile up a large amount of empty snail shells (astrea, trubo, nausarious, etc) on the side of the tank. This provides a habitat for the pods and stimulation for the pipefish (particularly the Dragon Face).
 
Thanks - good idea. I'm also trying to identify some interesting macros or other plants I could use in the display to encourage pod growth without the risk of going sexual or dying off in the tank.
 
I've only had my female bluestripe for 6 months, her mate died 2 weeks ago due to I think a hungry emerald crab while sleeping. I've heard of pipefish living for up to five years in captivity.
 
Thanks, danfrith. Sorry to hear about your male bluestripe. I don't trust any crabs anymore.

I've got some halimeda in a refugium in another tank. Maybe I'll grab some and throw it in the pipefish display. I've got chaeto in their HOB fuge, but it's too disorderly for the main tank.
 
I have two banded, a blueline, and an alligator pipe. They eat the newly hatched brine I put in twice daily for the dwarf seahorses, and they go after the PE mysis, as do my mandarin and target gobies.
 
I keep a pair of banded (D.dactyliophorus),a month or so.
One of them takes Hikari Mysis since day one,but doesn´t take bs.The other one never took mysis,but began taking mid size bs and now is fan of adult bs.None of them take cyclopeeze.
This shows these fish have individual behaviour and we can not make general conclussions.Same happens with mandarins.
 
the experience of others with pipes are very useful which makes me more confident in having a couple of these pipes. Thanks all
 
Thanks everyone.

I'm still a little discouraged that no one is reporting successfully keeping pipes for longer than a year. (Domboski maybe - he wasn't specific, just reported a "long time.")
 
Domboski congradulations on your success :)
Could you post pics of your pipefish or even better a full tank shot so we can see your set up?
 
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