can you keep

[clownFish1313]

can you keep 2 banded pipefish with 2 H. erectus or H. reidi and a shrimp goby, pistol shrimp pair all in a 29?

 

[Bluespot22]

That sounds like a very high bio load. I would not reccomend the pipes because most of the time pipes are wild caught and can harbor unwanted parasites and pathogens that could be transmitted to your seahorses. I would HIGHLY reccomend getting captive bred seahorses, it makes things a lot easier.

If you ever plan to breed them, s. erectus are the easiest to breed, but still very difficult. They can go right on to bbs and hitch at birth. Reidi however, don't hitch at birth and need rotifers.

 

[clownFish1313]

the pipes would be from LFS, i think CB. H. erectus from seahorsesource.com, CB.

 

[ReefNutPA]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12834674#post12834674 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clownFish1313
the pipes would be from LFS, i think CB.

There are no commercial breeders of pipefish in the US, so any pipefish at your LFS would be wild caught - don't let them tell you otherwise For this reason, it is not wise to mix them with CB Seahorses.

The only CB Pipes commercially bred are in Australia, and unfortunately they are not importing to the US at this time.

Tom

 

[clownFish1313]

Ok thanks for that. If i could only get pipes or only get horses what would be the best to get? As of feeding, life span? Why is no one breeding pipes, is it to hard to raise pipe larva?

Thanks,
Chandler


P.SI may want to get 1-2 mid to high tank fish, maby a pair of clowns?

 

[ReefNutPA]

Clownfish aren't recommended tankmates, either. Although people tend to try it often for some reason. Remember...clownfish are just damsels in fancy clothes

CB Seahorses are easier to care for than WC pipes. The seahorses will eat frozen mysis out of a dish, the pipes may never eat frozen foods and you'd end up buying suitable live foods for their lifespan.

Tom

p.s. for your first seahorse tank, I wouldn't add anything except the seahorses.

 

[TamiW]

CB Seahorses are easier to care for than WC pipes. The seahorses will eat frozen mysis out of a dish, the pipes may never eat frozen foods and you'd end up buying suitable live foods for their lifespan.

I sort of disagree with this. Any of the flagtail pipefish (Dunkerocampus, Doryhamphus) are pretty easy to care for em once established. Most take to frozen food very quickly, though you may have to suppliment with brine shrimp and baby brine shrimp for a while. Not only that, but unlike seahorses, they're pretty quick and can compete with other fast moving tankmates as long as they're not aggressive to boot.

p.s. for your first seahorse tank, I wouldn't add anything except the seahorses.

But I do agree with this. There are so many unknowns, including possible cross contamination, I'd stick with either seahorses OR pipefish and focus on one. Many people do keep them together, but they've usually being doing it for a while AND are willing to take the risk.

As to why no one breeds them? Several reasons. Difficulty being a factor, for sure, they have small, hair like young that are difficult to see, let along feed. Many different species, all with their own requirements. And very little commercial interest.

 

[clownFish1313]

the pipes at my LFS are eating frozen and look very heathy. the store is very well known and are only saltwater.:rolleye1:

I am only going to pipes OR seahorses

So if i got the shrimp goby and shrimp first, it would be a bad idia?

 

[block head]

my banded pipes seem to spend a good part of the day messing with my peppermint shrimp, i think your asking for trouble, a pistol shrimp might kill the pipe. the pipes will give you a little more leeway with other tankmate options. the pipes spend there day eating pods for the most part. i'd make sure your tank can supply pipes with enough pods. frozen and live foods are great way to supliment there diets.i wouldn't rely on them as the primary food source.

 

[clownFish1313]

im PLANING on having a 10 gallon sump and a 10 gallon fuge/mantis.

 

[pledosophy]

The cost involved in breeding pipes exceeds what the market is willing to pay for them, so no one breeds them.

Having a fish in your refugium makes it no longer a refugium, at that point it's a connected tank which will be adding to your bioload IMO.

 

[monkey21]

yeah that is true about why no one breeds pipes. i am sure anyone who can raise reidi fry successfully can breed pipe fry but who wants to by them. everyone wants seahorse but who knows what a pipe is. i like pipes and think they are more fun to watch but not everyone shares that view

 

[block head]

mantis are cool , ten gallon could work for some. wouldn't hook up mantis tank to the 46. 46 +10 fuge/sump + 10-20 mantis tank would be better imo

 

[clownFish1313]

im selling the 46 to down size to the 29.