How hard are these pipefish to keep.

[zanemoseley]

I've been thinking of starting a small ~ 30 gallon zoo tank for a while and I have loved the pipefish for a long time but I know they don't do well with regular fish. Liveaquaria says these are expert and difficult. I'd love to have one of the following in the tank:

Dragonface Pipefish
(Corythoichthys haematopterus)

Multibanded Pipefish
(Doryrhamphus multiannulatus

I understand that the feeding requirements would be very specific which I can deal with but I was wondering if they are so hard to keep it would be out of question. I am experience in keeping a very pristine tank as I have been keeping SPS successfully for 2 years now. Also are they usually as pretty as the pictures liveaquaria has? Someone set me straight on these wonderful fish.

http://liveaquaria.com/images/products/bigimage/lg_80269.jpg

http://liveaquaria.com/images/products/large/p_89287.jpg

 

[zanemoseley]

Also I would consider a larger tank if thats whats holding me back.

 

[Unlikely_Hero]

In my opinion, the liveaquaria descriptions are mainly meant to inform complete beginners what they're getting into. As long as you're well read on the fish you want and you have enough hands-on experience (which you do), you should be fine.

Tank mate-wise, pipefish are pretty much the same as horses. A good list for that can be found <a href=http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/tankmates.shtml>here</a>, if you didn't already know.

 

[chrisbenavides]

But, isn't there a big difference Unlikely_Hero. Can't we find a lot of seahorses who eat frozen, whereas it is almost impossible to find a breeder who sells pipes who eat frozen. Thats what made me turn away, as I know I cannot be proving live food every single day.

Just my thought. If you find a breeder that sells pipes that eat frozen let me know.

 

[ECSSR4103]

we found some pipefish that ate frozen baby brine. most mouths on many pipes are so small that frozen or live full grown brine are too big for them to eat. the bannded pipe has small mouth and the allagator s have larger mouths and eat better. hope this helps on the feeding ,we had both kinds untill a power outage killed my pump along with 6 horses and 3 pipes

 

[zanemoseley]

So whats some good reccomended reading on the little guys?

 

[kjdeut]

About 3 weeks ago I found myself unexpectedly with 3 dragon pipes and 3 banded pipes. 1 dragon died before I could even acclimate it, a second died within a week, but the 3rd is eating frozen and looking good. I heard the banded were harder to get to eat frozen. I was surprised to see all 3 of the banded eating frozen.
This is the first time I ever had WC livestock that wasnt already eating frozen. I dont know if I want to do this again. It seems very hit or miss if they will begin eating or not.

Ken

 

[hooterhead]

I work at a small LFS and usually it takes a week or two to get the banded pipes eating frozen. The alligators usually go for frozen much quicker (a day or two). We usually get those two types most often so I can't comment on the others but the alligator pipes are much more likely to eat frozen before the others i've had experience with. Just make sure you see them eat before you buy them.

 

[zanemoseley]

kjdeut: Do yours look as colorful as the pictures? Thats the main thing that draws me to them is their amazing coloring.

 

[kjdeut]

The banded are more black and white stripped, but they do have the nice red tail like in the pic and there face/mouth area is red also. I was watching them last night when I fed the tank and I was surprised to see them go after some big frozen mysis. The one just sucked it right down without a problem. I didnt think they would be able to eat something that big.
The dragon is yellow and greenish, not as colorful as the pic, but still very cool to look at.
Does anyone know if these guys change color like seahoreses do?

Ken

 

[zanemoseley]

Yeah I've got the feeling liveaquaria is full of it with their colors.

 

[ECSSR4103]

this site will give you alot of info www.seahorses.de/pipefish.htm it is the best site i have found so far.

 

[zanemoseley]

Well from the site above their multibanded pipe looks quite colorful. I can't decide if I wanna try some pipes or go with the more reliable CB seahorses.