Pipe fish

Reefwerks · 01-23-2008, 02:23 PM

I would love to get a pipe fish or two. Honestly dont trust the LFS information and would like to here first hand how to care for these. Which ones to stay away from, which ones are easier and of course feeding advice.

Thank you
Don

lcstorc · 01-23-2008, 02:27 PM

I'm sure Matt the resident expert will chime in but from what I understand they are all wild caught and are very difficult to convert to frozen food. They also need to be protected from agressive or fast fish like seahorses so they are better off in a species tank. I'm not sure but I believe they also require cooler temps like the seahorses.

Reefwerks · 01-23-2008, 02:41 PM

Thanks for the start. I'm prepared to feed live foods, thats all I feed my tank anymore except for a little nori here and there. The rest is not what I wanted to here but better I'm off being informed.

Don

panmanmatt · 01-23-2008, 02:44 PM

There are a few species of pipe fish that are well suited for a reef tank setting. Look at the flag tail species such as dragon faced pipes, banded, multi banded and janss pipe fish. All are suited for reef life.

As Lynn said, they will most likely be wild caught specimens and will do well with feedings of live foods such as pods, mysis and other shrimp larvae.

michael_cb_125 · 01-23-2008, 02:58 PM

How do these "reef type" pipe fish hold up to strong currents? I have always loved the look of these fish but I have tanks with very strong current, as I have SPS corals.

panmanmatt · 01-23-2008, 03:05 PM

They will do fine. The reef is their natural habitat. Dragon faced pipes are more of a rock/bottom dweller where as the others will spend more time in the water column.

Also, dragon faced pipes are a natural predator of acropora red bugs.

lcstorc · 01-23-2008, 03:08 PM

I knew you were out there Matt. Thanks for the correction. I'm learning but still have a long way to go.

Reefwerks · 01-23-2008, 03:18 PM

Right now I have rotifer and tiger pod cultures going. Just shut down the green water so have a empty third. Is there anything else you would suggest adding as a third?

Thanks
Don

panmanmatt · 01-23-2008, 03:20 PM

My seahorse decoder ring flashes red when somebody posts to this forum.

You are doing quite well with your info, Lynn. I don't expect you to know everything right away. It is a learning process for us all, myself included.

panmanmatt · 01-23-2008, 03:22 PM

Pods and rotifers are good, although the larger pipes may not recognize the rotifers due to their small size. If you can culture a shrimp species it wouldn't hurt to give them a good diversified diet.

michael_cb_125 · 01-23-2008, 03:27 PM

In a 240 gallon reef that is very established, would their be enough "bugs" to support a pipefish?

Reefwerks · 01-23-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panmanmatt

Pods and rotifers are good, although the larger pipes may not recognize the rotifers due to their small size. If you can culture a shrimp species it wouldn't hurt to give them a good diversified diet.

I looked at doing mysid shrimp and just feeding them the rotifers but it looks like that needs a shallow but good sized culture system and would be hard to automate like the other cultures. Brine may be an option if I can find the time to keep the culture clean.

Thanks
Don

panmanmatt · 01-23-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael_cb_125

In a 240 gallon reef that is very established, would their be enough "bugs" to support a pipefish?

I would think so. Just as long as you don't have a bunch of other fish to compete with them for the pods.

I'm not saying they can't be trained to eat frozen foods, just that you shouldn't count on them doing so. I have had pipes take to frozen easily, and also had other specimens of the same species refuse to touch it.

panmanmatt · 01-23-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefwerks

I looked at doing mysid shrimp and just feeding them the rotifers but it looks like that needs a shallow but good sized culture system and would be hard to automate like the other cultures. Brine may be an option if I can find the time to keep the culture clean.

Thanks
Don

Brine would be ok as long as you enriched the heck out of them. Brine by themselves are like potato chips, they or good to eat but have no nutritional value.

Reefwerks · 01-23-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panmanmatt

Brine would be ok as long as you enriched the heck out of them. Brine by themselves are like potato chips, they or good to eat but have no nutritional value.

How about frozen mysis? Guess I should stop eating chips for dinner.

Don

01-23-2008, 02:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Reefwerks Midas Blenny Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 112 View Gallery Karma Komment	Pipe fish I would love to get a pipe fish or two. Honestly dont trust the LFS information and would like to here first hand how to care for these. Which ones to stay away from, which ones are easier and of course feeding advice. Thank you Don

01-23-2008, 02:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Pipe fish I'm sure Matt the resident expert will chime in but from what I understand they are all wild caught and are very difficult to convert to frozen food. They also need to be protected from agressive or fast fish like seahorses so they are better off in a species tank. I'm not sure but I believe they also require cooler temps like the seahorses. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

01-23-2008, 02:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Reefwerks Midas Blenny Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 112 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Pipe fish Thanks for the start. I'm prepared to feed live foods, thats all I feed my tank anymore except for a little nori here and there. The rest is not what I wanted to here but better I'm off being informed. Don

01-23-2008, 02:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
panmanmatt Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 2,255 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Pipe fish There are a few species of pipe fish that are well suited for a reef tank setting. Look at the flag tail species such as dragon faced pipes, banded, multi banded and janss pipe fish. All are suited for reef life. As Lynn said, they will most likely be wild caught specimens and will do well with feedings of live foods such as pods, mysis and other shrimp larvae. __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

01-23-2008, 02:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Reef Shark Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 5,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Pipe fish How do these "reef type" pipe fish hold up to strong currents? I have always loved the look of these fish but I have tanks with very strong current, as I have SPS corals. __________________ All Fish are "Semi-Reef Safe"

01-23-2008, 03:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
panmanmatt Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 2,255 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Pipe fish They will do fine. The reef is their natural habitat. Dragon faced pipes are more of a rock/bottom dweller where as the others will spend more time in the water column. Also, dragon faced pipes are a natural predator of acropora red bugs. __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

01-23-2008, 03:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Pipe fish I knew you were out there Matt. Thanks for the correction. I'm learning but still have a long way to go. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

01-23-2008, 03:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
Reefwerks Midas Blenny Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 112 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Pipe fish Right now I have rotifer and tiger pod cultures going. Just shut down the green water so have a empty third. Is there anything else you would suggest adding as a third? Thanks Don

01-23-2008, 03:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
panmanmatt Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 2,255 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Pipe fish My seahorse decoder ring flashes red when somebody posts to this forum. You are doing quite well with your info, Lynn. I don't expect you to know everything right away. It is a learning process for us all, myself included. __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

01-23-2008, 03:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
panmanmatt Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 2,255 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Pipe fish Pods and rotifers are good, although the larger pipes may not recognize the rotifers due to their small size. If you can culture a shrimp species it wouldn't hurt to give them a good diversified diet. __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

01-23-2008, 03:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Reef Shark Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 5,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Pipe fish In a 240 gallon reef that is very established, would their be enough "bugs" to support a pipefish? __________________ All Fish are "Semi-Reef Safe"

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)