Anyone keep pipefish in their reef?

[Blazer88]

I was down at Barrier Reef today and noticed they had a few Dragon Face Pipefish in their main display tank. I was quite surprised to see them in a high-flow SPS tank but they seemed to be doing great. They said they are getting some Banded Pipefish in next week and I'm interested in getting one or two for my 65G reef. Anyone keep these guys in a reef? I have a very peaceful tank (clowns, shrimp goby, firefish, and mellow Bristletooth tang) so I don't think they would bother a pipefish by any means. The tank is about two years old and tons of pods are visible in the tank but they said the pipefish are taking prepared food. The quote from liveaquaria, "DO NOT HOUSE it with invertebrates with stinging tentacles (most corals and anemones), because they can harm it" is a bit worrisome. I have two RBTA's (at the very top of the tank), a large Frogspawn, Hammer, Open Brain, and a Torch coral that could potentially sting, I would hate for one to venture into either of those. Any advice?

 

[tamarindthai]

tagging along this tread,,,most concerned is how to and best way keep them alive,,i love to keep one or two in my tank.

 

[Blazer88]

Dang, your tank seems very similar to the one they keep their pipefish in, I'm guessing you would be just fine. I am most concerned about my RBTA's and other stinging corals that may affect them. I'm hoping they would be smart enough to stay away from an anemone, but you never know.

 

[tamarindthai]

yes, now you're convenced me in to it,,Blue Seirra or Indoor reef ,should have them too..,i will check them out.,,by the way i should have plenty of food (red bugs) for them to eat

 

[Blazer88]

I read they may eat red bugs

 

[tamarindthai]

yes, they love red bug,,indoor reef got 9 boxes of shipment to night,i will check them out tomorrow..,,gonna be some good stuffs

 

[CCR]

Yes they like red bugs. I had one for a couple of months. My powerhead was to much flow. It got pushed into an acro and looked like a U from the pressure. It was ok after I freed it. And stayed out of the current. Vanished a week later. Sure was cool, but spendy. Was a banded. Good Luck

 

[Cwazy Clown]

LOL red bug eating fish....Dang, your tank would be paradise =P

 

[Damsel13]

the pictures of Dangs tank are already paradise!

P.S. pipefish, needlefish kewl.
I wonder if one of these could be in a 55G reef tank? From seeing them in the wild I don't think so. Feedback?

 

[Salsaking]

Pipefish

I have had two in my 500! They are doing great! Had them two month now. They are really neat to watch.

Salsaking

 

[Blazer88]

Salsaking, do you have any "stinging" corals in your tank? What are the eating?

 

[Paul B]

I keep a mated pair of bluestripe pipefish in a 100 gallon reef. They do fine but I suppliment their diet every day by hatching brine shrimp which they eat an unbelievable amount of. They spawn every month or so.
Paul

 

[Damsel13]

Wow, Paul B the more I know about your tank the more I want mine to be like it. But I hope I could do without the huge algae trough...

 

[Paul B]

:lol: Damsel, the huge algae trough is not needed now but I will keep it in there for now anyway. It is just an experiment and even if it's not needed for algae it is a great oxigenator and conversation piece. It also keeps the light from hitting the back glass so it makes the tank look better.
Paul

 

[Damsel13]

that is neet. well where did you get those fish? Catch them? I saw so many off the coast just north of St. Pete. in Fla.. I used to hate them cause they would never be lunch!!!! :lol:

Deb

 

[Paul B]

Unfortunately we don't have blue stripe pipefish here in NY but we do have alot of brown pipefish that I have kept a few times. I just buy them in a aquarium store which we have many here.
Paul

 

[Blazer88]

Hey Paul, do you have them in a tank with an anemone? Assuming I can find ones that are taking prepared food, my biggest worry is them wondering into and being eaten by my anemone (though my clowns may keep them out of it, you never know).

 

[Sherman]

Rick, a club member has a couple dragon-faced in his 240 (standard 8x2x2) with TONS of flow, as well as a HUGE colony of frogspawn (volleyball sized), a slightly smaller torch, a large sebae anemone in the sand, and a RBTA up high. He's never had an issue, except for them going over the overflow, and dying in the filter sock. They're smart enough to stay in close to the rocks to avoid the current.

He originally introduced them to handle his red bug problem, and they were completely ineffective, so don't take any guarantees there. Very cool fish.

Here's the tank in question, which should answer just about any question you might have:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-11/totm/index.php

 

[Paul B]

Blazer I don't have any anemones and they never went neat the overflow which they could fit into.

 

[Blazer88]

It sounds like I will give a pipefish a shot. Do you think it would be okay to try a pair or am I pushing my luck? I should also put some screening material on my overflow just to make sure they don't try and get into there. I'm hoping to find a pair that will accept frozen mysis or brine, though Blue Sierra does sell live brine if I need to entice them to eat.