Pipefish cleaning Copperband

[Paul B]

This is something I have not seen before with pipefish. The copperband seeks out this pipefish and they stay together while the pipefish inspects and eats irritations or maybe parasites that I can't see off the copperband.
They have been together for 15 minutes so far and the copperband seems to be smiling. The multibanded pipefish is to large to get inside his gills but he finds some bits of food on his skin.

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

So cool!!

 

[Paul B]

The copperband won't leave him alone

 

[ReeferBill]

Sweet stuff! Makes me want to get a mother Copperbanded and try a pipefish!

 

[ReefingWerewolf]

Beautiful Copperband!

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

Wish you would post a movie. I'd like to see their interaction.

 

[Paul B]

Wish you would post a movie. I'd like to see their interaction.

Turn off the lights, stare at that picture and move your head back and forth.
Thats the movie. :crazy1:

 

[Paul B]

I got him a girlfriend today, she is a cutie

 

[madadi]

what kind of flow you have in that tank? I hear they don't do well with high flow but always wanted one

 

[Paul B]

I don't let the pipefish know about the high flow. I have a Korilia on each side of the tank and there is a whirlpool that forms in the middle of the tank. I have to shut the powerheads to feed them when they are not hunting pods. I shut the powerheads to feed the tank anyway.
There is also a dragon face pipefish

 

[JoelA7]

Outstanding. Paul, how long have you had the CBB?

 

[Paul B]

I don't know, A couple of years I think

 

[Moort82]

I've seen this with the smaller bluestripe pipefish but never with multibars, which is cool. Is it only the Copperband they clean?

 

[Paul B]

Yes but the copperband is the only fish large enough to be cleaned. The next largest fish is the watchman gobi and he can't be bothered.

 

[TamiW]

That's a really cool finding. Doryrhamphus are well known for their cleaning habits, but I don't know if Dunkerocampus has ever been identified as a cleaner.

 

[Paul B]

:wavehand:I am not known as a cleaner either, but I washed my car today

 

[venomcc]

Amazing!

 

[Paul B]

Amazing!

What, That I washed my car? It was dirty. :beachbum: