kien's 150g Room Divider Mixed Reef & Stuff

[JDigital]

How do you find it keeping a Dragon Pipe in a large tank? Do you have to spot feed him (or her) at feeding time? Do any of his (or her) larger tank mates harass him (or her).

[michika]

Originally Posted by JDigital

How do you find it keeping a Dragon Pipe in a large tank? Do you have to spot feed him (or her) at feeding time? Do any of his (or her) larger tank mates harass him (or her).

That was quite the politically correct post.

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by michika

That was quite the politically correct post.

They are far and few between, so don't get use to them Catherine. Plus, I figured once I said him (or her), I couldn't then just start referring to him (or her) as a Him (or her) the 2 other times.

[kien]

Originally Posted by JDigital

How do you find it keeping a Dragon Pipe in a large tank? Do you have to spot feed him (or her) at feeding time? Do any of his (or her) larger tank mates harass him (or her).

I have 3 pipe fish currently and they do well in my tank. I've had other types of pipefish with no luck so I've concluded that the Dragon Pipefish are the easiest of all the ones available. I think this is mostly because they don't openly swim so they are not blasted around by the flow. They mostly just slink around hunting for pods. One pipefish I've had for a couple of years and the other ones I've had for about a year. I've noticed that they are quite sociable as they always sleep together and often hang out together during the day. I have never seen any of them eat mysis or any other prepared food. They strictly eat pods. Their mouths are so small I'm not even sure how they would eat mysis. I have not seen any other fish bother the pipefish and they are not skittish at all. Even my most aggressive fish, my pair of clown fish don't bother them if they slink near their anemone. Every time I am in the tank or near the tank they get very curious and come slinking by. They are ALWAYS photobombing whatever I happen to be trying to photograph, those buggers!

[JDigital]

So what your saying is I'm going to need a significant pod population in any tank I want to have them in. Gotcha!

Ideally I was thinking the tank at the office, as a few people have inquired about seahorses (which I have said no to) but a pipe or two might be enough to make them happy if they want something that is "delicate and graceful"

[kien]

Originally Posted by JDigital

So what your saying is I'm going to need a significant pod population in any tank I want to have them in. Gotcha!

Ideally I was thinking the tank at the office, as a few people have inquired about seahorses (which I have said no to) but a pipe or two might be enough to make them happy if they want something that is "delicate and graceful"

Ya, it's funny I get that question ALL the time from guests. "So, have you thought about putting a seahorse in your tank?", "how come you don't have a seahorse?", "When are you getting a seahorse". Then I gotta go into my whole spiel about suitable environments for seahorse, etc, etc.. But now I just point to the pipefish and that usually satisfies them.

I personally wouldn't recommend a pipefish unless you have a well established pod population. I have a dragonet fish that used to only eat pods as well and used to hunt pods with the pipefish. Then one day he figured out that he liked mysis better. He doesn't do much pod hunting anymore while the pipefish still do, even after seeing their pod hunting buddy quit that habit.

[michika]

Did you add all your pipefish separately?

[kien]

Originally Posted by michika

Did you add all your pipefish separately?

I started with one pipefish a couple of years ago, then added another two earlier this year.