pipefish bully....

[shilo_1]

I was curious to hear if anyone else has had a similar problem....I know I've never heard of anything like it !

I have a banded pipe in my 65g. Up till a few days ago, its been a great model citizen. Two days ago, hubby got me two peppermint shrimp....since adding them, the pipe constantly harasses them everytime he sees them ! Is this normal ? I can't say I've heard of pipes being shrimp-bullies......lol
Anyone else had trouble like this ?

 

[Reefvette]

FOOOOOD

Sorry but they look like some yummy food to him

 

[seamonkey2]

yeah I have to agree, they are food, I am sure the pipe is harrassing them because they dont fit in his mouth.

Good luck pipefish

Jose

 

[urbanrat84]

I have 4 red-handed shrimp (type of cleaner shrimp) that are too big for my banded pipefish to eat but whenever they're out in the open the pipes go right up to them and wave their heads around curiously. Usually the shrimp face them head on with their claws out (they couldn't hurt the pipefish if they tried) and make a hasty retreat at the first opportunity. I originally had 5 shrimp but found on the floor quite a while ago - half chewed by one of our cats. I couldn't for the life of me work out how the cat could've gotten it, but after watching one of pipefish chase one of the shrimp up the powerhead outlet at the top of the tank the other day I think I now know how it happened...

 

[The Cardinal]

Were the peppermints having eggs? My small banded does the same thing but it looks like it is trying to pick the eggs from the peppermint. I am pretty sure my tiny pipefish wouldn't consider a fully grown shrimp as a meal.

 

[Rays]

half chewed by one of our cats. I couldn't for the life of me work out how the cat could've gotten it, but after watching one of pipefish chase one of the shrimp up the powerhead outlet at the top of the tank the other day I think I now know how it happened...

You'd think the cat would've at least shared the meal, after all, it was the pipe that contributed! :bigeyes::eek2:

 

[mollymonticello]

It's not unheard of for medium sized seahorses to gang up on a large peppermint and tear it apart...I doubt a pipefish could harm a peppermint shrimp, though they try.

 

[shilo_1]

It doesn't matter now....last night I found my pipe stuck half way through my Koralia PH.

 

[ReefNutPA]

Sorry to hear that As you've found out, those powerheads are not seahorse/pipefish safe. I hadn't realized you were using them or I would have mentioned it before.

Tom

 

[mollymonticello]

Oh no! I have the Koralias, also, but I have the little cap on the front. I had to contact the company and they mailed them to me. Did you get the little cap to put on the front of it? Which part of the PH was the pipefish stuck in? I am worried about my pipes now.

 

[shilo_1]

Yeah it really sucks. He was such a cool little guy and he was easy to get eating frozen to I was thrilled to have him.

The pipe has been in the tank for close on a year now and never usually ventures up that high in the tank, so I didn't think anything of it. I have the PH about 8" from the surface, directed towards the surface.
I guess the little guy must have swam above it or something, and got sucked in the side, through the gaps. His head and front half of his body was on the outside of the gaps on the side, with his tail half through the gap and out the front (where the water gets pushed out.)
No, Mollymonticello, I don't have the caps on the front (at least I don't think so, I never sent away for them....didn't know there were caps to be honest.)

 

[mollymonticello]

I'm sorry I would be so sad if that happened.

I wonder if he died first, then got sucked in? I am not saying that I would recommend these for seahorses, but I didn't think the Koralias were strong enough to suck in a pipe. Unless it went in there on purpose or died first. My tiny little bluestripe swims near it all the time, snicking pods off of it. He gets right up next to it and never acts like he is struggling. He just effortlessly glides away. And I have two of them. I have a Koralia 1 and a Koralia 2. Maybe the larger Koralias would be more dangerous.

Either way, I am glad you posted that, because it's def. something for me to consider. I'm worried now!

 

[Dustin1300]

I still dont think the caps would have worked in the situation....They are mainly for directing the flow which I don't use becuase I want a better dispersement which he Kirlalias are good for. Anyways, sorry about your loss, it's amazing how attached we can get to these fish. I have been in the reef part of this hobby since June of last year and have been so lucky to have just lost one of my fish right at the beginning. I'm hoping my streak of good living goes on!

 

[pledosophy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12126889#post12126889 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dustin1300
I still dont think the caps would have worked in the situation....They are mainly for directing the flow which I don't use becuase I want a better dispersement which he Kirlalias are good for.

There is a piece called a fish grid that attaches to the cap that blocks off the front of the pump limiting what can get in there.

 

[block head]

just got a preg peppermint shrimp and two banded pipes, the pipes are all over the shrimp, the pipes seem more interesyted in the shrimp than the bbs and live brine i tried to feed them.