Would a Pair of Pipefish work in my Tank ?

[joegoersch]

I have a 120 gallon tank with tons of LR and rubble piles, and a 40 gallon sump with LR, cheato fuge.

Current tank inhabitants:
Mandarin Dragonette
Starry blenny,
royal gramma,
ocellarus clown,
pajama cardinal,
pair of zebr bar goby,
purple firefish,
one spot foxface
Three small Red bubble tip anemone
Hawaiin Feather Duster
Cleaner shrimp
Small snail CUC
small hermit (I could get rid of this guy, if needed)
RECENTLY ADDED: McCosker's and Carpenter flasher wrasse and Diamond goby mated pair
tridacta clam

My mandarin (now about a year old) does not take any food but is plenty fat and has tripled in size since when I bought him, so I'm assuming good copepod population.

I'm wondering if tank with current inhabitants could handle a pair of Dragonface Pipefish ?

 

[b_braz]

I'm not sure but would like to know as well. I really like them.

 

[robert s b.]

I have 2 in my 300, and they are just doing just fine.

 

[rssjsb]

Your anemones will pose a risk to a dragonface. DFs also are harder to feed and are much more reliant on pods. They will compete with your mandarin. You've got a big tank and it may not be an issue, but they hunt constantly.

I think you would much better off with a Janssi or bluestripes or one of the other flagtail pipes. They're easier to wean onto frozen. They also are less likely to interact with corals or (especially) your BTAs, as they don't slither over corals and substrate while hunting, like dragon faces do.

 

[diverdan6996]

Dragonface Pipe

Dragonface Pipe

I have a DF in my 55 mixed reef for about a couple months now and haven't noticed a problem with corals as he hunts, it is really cool to watch him seeking but I don't see him actually feed?!?

 

[JLynn]

Your anemones will pose a risk to a dragonface. DFs also are harder to feed and are much more reliant on pods. They will compete with your mandarin. You've got a big tank and it may not be an issue, but they hunt constantly.

I think you would much better off with a Janssi or bluestripes or one of the other flagtail pipes. They're easier to wean onto frozen. They also are less likely to interact with corals or (especially) your BTAs, as they don't slither over corals and substrate while hunting, like dragon faces do.

I just wanted to add the Ocean Rider offers captive bred Multi-Banded Pipefish (they are a variety of flag tail pipefish) which are already trained to eat frozen mysis, so if you do get pipefish, I would consider getting a couple of those.