Want to surprise my wife with a pipefish

[The steven liu]

I have a 20 gallon tank that I've just cleared out my previous lifestock. There is currently no fish in it and only a few blueleg hermits, snails, a flower anemone and a couple patches of GSP. My wife have always wanted to keep pipefish or seahorse. I wish to surprise her with either one on valentine's. Sea horses are rediculously expensive. I am leaning towards a pipefish. I do have a huge amount of pods and a clump fo chaeto algae in the tank too. Do you guys think I'd have success with a dragon face or a banded pipefish? Will the flower anemone eat it? Lastly, can they be converted to frozen food after a while?

 

[jcatblum]

The flower anemone needs to go----and a banded pipe needs more room than a 20 gal. Also if it is not a 20 tall, then most seahorses wouldn't work in that setup either (if you were to find some in your price range, here in town I can buy Kuda for $18, which is the same price I paid for my banded pipe). Not trying to discourage you, just sharing the little bit I know. Gulf pipes would work. Plus they are cheaper than the other pipes you are lookin at. If I remember correct they are only $4. Look at Flordiapets.com
There shipping rates are reasonable, and I have never had ANY online fish dealer package there livestock better than they did.

 

[Swanwillow]

get rid of the carpet anemone, and look for some of the smaller species of pipefish. they will do well in pairs (male/female) but not male/male groupings, things like that...

they usually never go over to frozen, but some people had luck.

the reason they cost less is that they are wild caught, and I'll point ya over to seahorse.org or sygnathid.org for more info on them and what it entails!!!

 

[jcatblum]

not tryin to highjack but just wanted to add The LFS insist the Kuda's are CB, I do have a friend who bought a pair, and they were eating frozen since the day they came home and are thriving---however I do not believe they are truely CB---and I have not purchased any for myself.

As far as CB pipes I do not know any place you can purchase them...I have managed to raise pipe fry, and know of several others who have, but I don't know of anyone who sells them. Oh, and my pipes eat frozen.

 

[The steven liu]

Thanks for the input, actually I work with a LFS so I don't really worry sources, just want to confirm if I can do what I wanted. I think I'd do something about the anemone bf I get any pipes.

 

[Bluetangclan]

Ditch the anemone. If you arent willing to put in the time or money to invest in pod culture and feedinf live food, go find some gulf pipes. They have the highest likelyhood from what I have seen of switching to frozen. I have had a half dozen in native tanks and all switched with very little time. They arent the prettiest but are good, forgiving training pipes for the lazy.