Dragon face pipefish questions

[KirbyBTF]

Hey all, my LFS has a dragon face pipe and I asked them which pipe would be best for my 7.5g (initially planned on one blue stripe) but they suggested a dragon face. Said it was better than a blue stripe because it's easier to care for, hardier, and easy to train on frozen foods. But every website I've said a minimum of 55 gallons. That's quite different from what my LFS said. Their reasoning is they don't move a ton, more just slithering along the bottom pod hunting. Even though they are a bit bigger. It seems like the 55g is recommended for the pod population. And my LFS has them trained on frozen. But PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong here. I will definitely not cram an animal in my tank that needs more movement room. Also, LOTS of stinging corals in this tank, some on the sand.

 

[Bratyboy2]

Absolutely do not buy that poor animal! What you found is absolutely right! Blue stripe would be better if you can get it trained to eat. I'm working with 4 currently. What are the stinging corals?

And if I were you I would tell that store to do some research...sound like fish flippers to me!

 

[KirbyBTF]

Ok that's what I thought. Right now i have a 3 head hammer, 2 head hammer, frogspawn, another frogspawn, short tentacle fungia plate, single Duncan head, Yuma, and growing mushroom island. Those are all the stinging corals, and actually they are ALL on the sand.

 

[Bratyboy2]

A blue stripe will be just fine in there. Good swimmers and only get to 3 inches. If you can find a pair and get them eating that would be nice.
Try nutramar ova and brine. If you can get them on brine then try mysis. Both my pairs are only taking ova right now. I held out on them last night and will feed brine tonight

 

[KirbyBTF]

How hard is it to get them eating frozen. I've got a pregnant wife, ferret, a dog, and work 12 hours a day. Really no time for training to feed on frozen unfortunately. I would love to find one already weaned to mysid.

 

[Bratyboy2]

It takes time to get them on bigger foods ova is eazy

 

[teemee]

+1 on the blue stripes. If you can find a pair at the LFS - they will be tight, you'll know straight away - that would be ideal. Hands down, Nutramar ova has been the one food I've gotten even my most finicky fish to eat, so get some to start.

 

[KirbyBTF]

Awesome, gonna put in an order for one i think. And I'll have to get some of that nutrimar ova stuff online. You don't think two would cramp my 7.5g?

 

[Bratyboy2]

No but that would be my only fish since they graze all the time

 

[KirbyBTF]

My wife REALLY wants a red scooter blenny, assuming they are both trained in frozen would they work together?

 

[Bratyboy2]

Yes scooters are easy to get feeding

 

[KirbyBTF]

Ok great, very happy to hear that. Thank you for all your help.

 

[KirbyBTF]

Today I had a second very trusted lfs tell me a dragon face would be fine in the 7.5g as long as it was trained on frozen... Interesting

 

[Bratyboy2]

Its up to you...

 

[H.reidi.MN]

Cmon man don't put a dragon face in a 7gal... And I wouldn't add a pair or a blue stripe either.. They need around 30 gallons min and enjoy swimming room. The scooter might be OK assuming you can get it to eat other foods otherwise a 7 gal won't support it on pods and it will die... Gl

 

[KirbyBTF]

Its up to you...

Cmon man don't put a dragon face in a 7gal... And I wouldn't add a pair or a blue stripe either.. They need around 30 gallons min and enjoy swimming room. The scooter might be OK assuming you can get it to eat other foods otherwise a 7 gal won't support it on pods and it will die... Gl

Oh I'm not going to. I just think it's funny how misinformed these fish stores are. A pair of blue stripes are out as well. Maybe 1. And i will only purchase a scooter if it's eating frozen, don't worry! The wife is choosing the fish she wants, I'm just the approving authority lol. We picked up a tiny tiny bangaii cardinal today so once he outgrows the tank I'll start looking into a pipe. Thanks for the concern though!

 

[rssjsb]

I would never put a dragonet in a 7-gallon either unless it's attached to a very large refugium. Scooters may take frozen more readily than a mandarin. But they're still dragonets that hunt pods all day and they can still starve even if they're eating mysis. I've experienced it first-hand.

 

[reefgoddess808]

Regardless if they are trained to eat frozen or not they still require pods for their overall health as a major part of their diet. If you are wanting pod eaters in a small tank I would stick with just one animal. More pod eaters need more pods ie a bigger tank than you have. I would suggest for the tank size a little herd of dwarf seahorses would be really neat although they require live hatched baby brine daily...which is why I don't have them. LOL Good luck to you!

 

[acanlover]

I don't think a 7 gallon would be sufficient. I had one in a system of over 100 gallons. It was absolutely my favorite fish. I would just slither all over the rocks and was so cool. I bought him after he was trained to eat so that is something you need to consider too. Sadly he decided to swim high up one day and got sucked onto an MP40 and couldn't get away