Bongo Shrimp
P. ceratophthalma
My LFS just got in a pair of banded pipefish and a pair of Jann's Pipefish. I'd really like to get the Jann's pipes if they are eating, but have heard mixed things about them. Which do you think I should get? And why?
Which Pipefish?
- Thread starter Bongo Shrimp
- Start date
billybobed
New member
They're neat little guys. What would their tankmates be? Do have to be careful with the pipes on who they live with. Also, be careful with the fishstore ones, if they got em fresh from the coast, they might be tough up front to eat frozen foods. I'd check with the store to see if they're eating frozen copepods, mysis, etc.
Bongo Shrimp
P. ceratophthalma
They just got them in today and were nice enough to hold both pairs for me till tomorrow so I can see who eats and who does not. They would be going into my seahorse tank with two horses, a yashia goby and a rainsford's goby.
billybobed
New member
Cool...I have a few different flavors of pipes with my horses, been together about 4-5 months with no problems. I've read, here and elsewhere, that it is sometimes recommended to not mix them together due to potential bacteria issues. While I've been lucky (one thing that helped on my end is my LFS is fairly reputable and claimed the ones I got to be true tank raised, etc), its something to consider as well. That said, myself, and many others I've talked to, have had good luck with them together, and they make a neat set to have. Let us know what you end up doing.
Bongo Shrimp
P. ceratophthalma
I know they are wild caught and mixing can be troublesome but I have a very reputable LFS too. Their quality is second to none and they even have a 14-day guarantee on all livestock. So that means they trust their livestock to be healthy.
My main concern is that the Janss pipefish, from what I've heard, can be harder to keep than the banded pipes. Can anyone confirm this or say otherwise?
My main concern is that the Janss pipefish, from what I've heard, can be harder to keep than the banded pipes. Can anyone confirm this or say otherwise?
TamiW
Seahorse Wrangler
I've never personally kept bandeds, but I have kept Janss and found them easy to keep and get eating frozen.
I would strongly recommend quarantining though as you don't want them to pass anything on to your seahorses.
Bongo Shrimp
P. ceratophthalma
Well I ended up getting the bandeds because they were more active in the store, they were interested in the frozen food and were just hunting all the time. The janss were hiding in the back behind a rock all day and did not want to eat. Maybe if no one buys them and they are looking better at the store next week I'd consider getting them too.
billybobed
New member
Cool! The banded's are neat, I'm sure you'll enjoy them.
Bongo Shrimp
P. ceratophthalma
The only thing about them is, first they are aggressive towards my peppermint shrimp- just plain weird. And second, it is very hard to tell if they are eating although they seem interested in the food.
Also, is there any good way to tell if they are male or female. I was sold them as a pair. Would they fight if they were both the same sex?
Also, is there any good way to tell if they are male or female. I was sold them as a pair. Would they fight if they were both the same sex?
billybobed
New member
I don't know of any way to sex them based on color/stripping. Only way I've known via eyeballing them is the male will have a slender'er gut, almost flat in some areas where the eggs are perched after mating.
Territorial behavior seems hit or miss with the pipes. These seem to be on the lower end of being aggressive (compared to a blue stripped for instance). Even if they are 2 males you have, introducing them at the same time as you did into your tank will also reduce the risk of them being territorial as well, at least with each other.
Territorial behavior seems hit or miss with the pipes. These seem to be on the lower end of being aggressive (compared to a blue stripped for instance). Even if they are 2 males you have, introducing them at the same time as you did into your tank will also reduce the risk of them being territorial as well, at least with each other.
Luis A M
Premium Member
If they get along,they´re a pair! I think males have a spear shaped caudal fin,while that of the female is perfectly round.Can you take pics?.
