Which Pipefish ?

[MDeth]

I still haven't decided on my second fish for my 14g BioCube.

My current stock are a Randall's Goby, Pistol shrimp, 6 sexy shrimp, 3 blueleg hemits, 3 margarita snails, 2 nassarius snails.

Would the pistol be a problem for a pipe? < I assume he's still about 1/2 - 3/4" big because I haven't seen him since I bought him.

My other considerations were/would be a rainford goby or a mandarin (that feeds on prep. food - pls dont even comment but I am throwing it out there)

I habitually feed mysis cyclopeeze as well as DT Oyster Eggs for the pods.

Getting back to my most probable choice, can somebody tell me which species are more 'common' and which are the hardiest of those frequently available? My LFS has a blue colored pipe that was very attractive.

 

[danfrith]

For that size aquarium, I would only recommend a single bluestripe African pipefish (Doryrhamphus exisus, spelling?), although you might be able to keep a pair if you can supply them with food. You might be able to get away with a small dragon-face also, but thats pushing it. In terms of feeding the bluestripe will desimate your pod population in a week unless you have a large refugium on this system. I would only recommend buying this fish if it is feeding on frozen food. You may be able to train it on to frozen but thats risky. As for foods to try, My pair of bluestripes feed on frozen Mysis and won't accept any other foods accept the live pods they find in the tank ( they seem to be specialized Copepod feeders, I've never seen them go after amphipods before). You might also try cyclopeeze or brine shrimp, live or frozen. Of all the pipefish species I've kept in the past (Multi-bandeds, dragon-face, and bluestripes) the bluestripes seem to be the most hardiest, most willing to accept prepared foods and just seemed to adapt best to the Reef enviroment over all. These are some what of a secretive fish but in a nano you should see them quite a bit.
Good luck.

 

[danfrith]

Also you should'nt have any problems with the pistol, I 've had a tiger pistol with mine for almost a year now.

 

[MDeth]

That's what I was hoping to hear

They don't need cooler water like seahorses do correct?

 

[danfrith]

Correct. I keep mine around 80.

 

[MDeth]

Finally talked my mom into letting me get a chiller so now there should no issues except possibly that damn pistol that I havent seen since he was introduced

^ Was about 3 weeks ago...