New African Bluestripe Pipefish

[marblesojecki]

So, i just received my new blue stripe two days ago, and althought he is looking for pods, he never leaves the confines of a space that's approximately 3 gallons in volume. He's in a 90gal with a 20 gal refugium and a 15 gal sump. What's his deal? Is he afraid fo the other fish in the aquarium? There's only a neon goby and a curious wormfish in there. The tank has been setup for approx. three years with soft corals. Has anyone else ever had them do this before they are aclimated. I hear these are a fairly easy pipefish to have. Any thoughts/experiences would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[ex82nd]

Any pictures?

 

[SWSaltwater]

they are pretty hard to keep from my experience with em, have dragon pipes doing great but the blue stripes I got never came out much and vanished. Same with the banded pipes. My dragonface is doing great though!

 

[rssjsb]

Maybe you've got a male. In my experience, they're far more shy and delicate than females. I've got female bluestripes in two tanks and they're out and about all the time.

SWSaltwater, my experience has been just the opposite. I've found bluestripes (females, anyway) to be quite hardy, but have had no long-term success with dragonfaces.

 

[marblesojecki]

yeah he's a male, and he is still swimming in the same darn spot. he's looking for food and has found SOME. I am afraid that he will deplete all of the pods in his little corner of the tank and starve. All he has to do is swim OUTSIDE of his corner! I purchased him from liveaquaria and they were unable to guarantee the sex. Where have you purchased them from, and were they able to guarantee a sex?
Thanks,

 

[rssjsb]

I bought mine locally and could look at them before I got them. My male stays in the same few inches of his tank most of the time. If he's hungry, he'll venture out. I wouldn't worry too much for now.

Also, maybe you could try a little cyclopeeze or some Tiggerpods. Some people have luck with frozen mysis, but I never have.

 

[mollymonticello]

How big is yours, approximately? i got 2 from reefhotspot (they're actually a subspecies of blue stripes) and they sent me 2 males even though I asked them not to do that, and explained how to tell the difference. They're just too hard to sex, I guess.