Easy Pipefish?

[Enigma]

Is there such a thing as an easy (or moderate) to care for pipefish?

I'm starting to mull over the building of a frag/growout system, and I'm thinking that pipefish might be a nice addition to it. I like the thought of having a natural predator in there, but I'm also very conscious of the challenges of keeping them. Has anyone had any success in getting any of the species to eat frozen?

[reefwars]

Is there such a thing as an easy (or moderate) to care for pipefish?

I'm starting to mull over the building of a frag/growout system, and I'm thinking that pipefish might be a nice addition to it. I like the thought of having a natural predator in there, but I'm also very conscious of the challenges of keeping them. Has anyone had any success in getting any of the species to eat frozen?


ive had success with a few , the easiest being the banded pipefish.

ive usued cyclopeeze to get them to eat , i dont think ive ever gotten one that was already trained on pre pared foods.

very fragile animals though.

[tim the toolman]

I have 2 banded pipes in my mixed reef and I have never seen them eat any dead food. I tried with a cyclopeeze/libe baby brine mix before I moved them into my reef tank and they would only touch the live. They have been living in my big display now for about 6 mnths and seem to be doing fine but I think that's just because of the pod colonies. I have never seen them in store ready to eat dead. I guess overall my answer would be if you don't mind keeping a live brine culture then go foor it to get them started, but if you are not willing to give them live they will most likely starve.

[sphelps]

I've had OK success with dragon pipefish, kind of like a finicky mandarin fish so an established tank with good pod supply and little to no competition is key. My banded experience is not so good.

[ScubaSteve]

Dragon-faced Pipefish are a natural predator of red bugs on acros, so goo for a grow out system. But I'd echo the statement that they are like picky mandarins, so you'd have to make sure they were getting enough food.

[Enigma]

Like finicky/picky mandarins? I thought mandarins were picky! This idea is, perhaps permanently, put on the back burner.

I don't mind cultivating foods for a short period of time (raising fry, while getting fish trained on frozen, etc.), but there is no way I want it to be a permanent state of affairs.

[reefwars]

Like finicky/picky mandarins? I thought mandarins were picky! This idea is, perhaps permanently, put on the back burner.

I don't mind cultivating foods for a short period of time (raising fry, while getting fish trained on frozen, etc.), but there is no way I want it to be a permanent state of affairs.


last going off my pair of banded pipefish ate everything i added to the tank except flake or pellets, it took some time but they eventually seen alot of what i put in as food.

personally though for a fragtank or even a grow tank id do wrasses they are like guard dogs.

[Enigma]

Aren't most wrasses jumpers? That would be my big concern: in addition to the size of the little tank I'm planning. A pair (or harem) of bluestripe pipefish would probably do alright in it. I'd like to leave the tank uncovered.

[reefwars]

Aren't most wrasses jumpers? That would be my big concern: in addition to the size of the little tank I'm planning. A pair (or harem) of bluestripe pipefish would probably do alright in it. I'd like to leave the tank uncovered.


wrasses are def jumpers, but they do a killer job on protecting your investment.

[reefwars]

you will def have better luck traing your pipefish in a smaller tank but a harder time keeping it fed if it doesnt eat:)

[ScubaSteve]

Leopard wrasses are less likely to jump. Their natural tendency is to dive for the sand when spooked, not head for the surface.

[reefwars]

Leopard wrasses are less likely to jump. Their natural tendency is to dive for the sand when spooked, not head for the surface.


absolutely , i have a black leopard and hes always hunting through the frags never really heads up top.

ive always been told the blacks were the easiest to care for so i started with them.

[Enigma]

Live Aquaria indicates 50 gallons or more for the leopard wrasse. Would the two of you say that is correct?

Honestly, I'm looking at about 22/23 gallons (36x12x12) for my little frag/growout tank.

Edit: It would wind up plumbed into a much larger system, but that wouldn't happen until the spring at the earliest.

[reefwars]

Live Aquaria indicates 50 gallons or more for the leopard wrasse. Would the two of you say that is correct?

Honestly, I'm looking at about 22/23 gallons (36x12x12) for my little frag/growout tank.

Edit: It would wind up plumbed into a much larger system, but that wouldn't happen until the spring at the earliest.


you could get away with less for a good while but i think they will need bigger than a 50g once they grow to size.

my black leopard is maybe 1-2" now if not smaller but he will grow pretty quick and need some more swimming room.

[reefwars]

for a frag tank i wouldnt really think long term for the fish as their homes , i see them their to do a job once they outgrow they should be rehomed to something larger....kinda like a retirement plan lol

[ScubaSteve]

Depends. I've seen the smaller ones (black) stay happy in small tanks for a very long time where my potter's grows like a mofo and I might have to rescape my 50 gallon to give him more swimming volume.