pipefish

[leslee5050]

I have 2 janss pipefish. One I have had for about 3 months and the other I just got a few weeks ago. The first one I have eating mysis. The other one won't eat the mysis, so I am using cyclopeeze. Is there a way to get this new pipe to eat mysis?

 

[namxas]

IME, Janss' convert fairly readily, and are great fish (mine were in my mixed reef). however, some take longer than others to make the switch.

often, the ol' "if you can eat it, i can eat it" works, and it may learn from your happy glutton. i do suggest, mixing some mysis with the 'peeze, and it may snap some up "accidentally" and realize it's food. it also helps if your brand of mysis is whole shrimp as opposed to pieces (more easily recognized as food).

HTH

 

[leslee5050]

pipes

pipes

I have the mysis shrimp that you can purchase in a whole sheet. I think it is the pieces that you were talking about. How do you go about purchasing whole mysis that is small enough for the pipes to eat?

 

[TamiW]

You'd be surprised at how large the mysis pipefish can take is. I'd start with hikari mysis, which is a small-ish mysis. However, even my blue stripe pipefish can take pe mysis.

Then just keep offering it. Once the one that isn't eating mysis realizes his buddy is getting food he's not, he'll make the switch mighty quickly.

 

[leslee5050]

pipes

pipes

Where can you get kikari mysis or pe mysis?

 

[TamiW]

The cheapest way is checking around your local fish stores. However, you can order online, but then you're paying up the wahoo for shipping frozen food. Dr. Foster and Smith have frozen, as does Marine Depot.

 

[leslee5050]

Thanks. I only have one 2 lfs here in town and they don't carry it. I will check it out. Is one better than the other, or should I get both?

 

[namxas]

that's definitely a can of worms...

Hikari mysis is a SW species, and is what i use most of the time. my only grip with Hikari is that the size of the mysis can be variable at times (sometimes they're really small).

PE is a FW species, but is always fairly consistent, and pretty large (sometimes too large for small SH). it is also VERY high in fat content.

SO...my SH tend to get both, and i just feed each brand on different days. it also helps that i feed some of my scorps PE, so i have it onhand.