Pipefish alone?

[harrylikesfish]

So I’m thinking of getting a dragonface or white banded pipefish for my currently cycling biocube 32 after the refugium has been set up and the pods have established, but most care guides say that they have to be kept in pairs or small groups which I’m worried will put too much burden on the pods and the bioload. Can I keep just one? Tankmates will be 2 erectus seahorses and 1 royal gramma.

 

[Spare time]

I'll be honest I wouldn't get one for a 32 biocube. I think they just eat too many pods for a tank like that to have a consistent supply.


Regardless, I think they are ok with just themselves. It may not be ideal but I wouldn't think it would cause any issue.

 

[harrylikesfish]

I'll be honest I wouldn't get one for a 32 biocube. I think they just eat too many pods for a tank like that to have a consistent supply.


Regardless, I think they are ok with just themselves. It may not be ideal but I wouldn't think it would cause any issue.

Thanks for the concern, I’ll culture pods in a separate tank in order to have a steady supply of pods to dose. I’ll also have lots of macros in the display.

 

[Spare time]

Thanks for the concern, I’ll culture pods in a separate tank in order to have a steady supply of pods to dose. I’ll also have lots of macros in the display.

Ah ok if you have your own culture then it should be fine.

 

[ThePurple12]

I'm not sure if you'll be able to culture enough copepods for a big pipefish. Maybe you will, but I'd suggest getting it trained onto frozen mysis like the seahorses. Good luck!

 

[harrylikesfish]

Yes I will make training it onto frozen a priority.

 

[rayjay]

I'd never put a royal gramma in with seahorses. They can add too much stress to the seahorses, especially as they get bigger.

 

[harrylikesfish]

I'd never put a royal gramma in with seahorses. They can add too much stress to the seahorses, especially as they get bigger.

Hmm a lot of people say that they’re one of the most seahorse safe fish.

 

[rayjay]

Yes, there ARE some people that SAY that, and indeed some people haven't had a problem. However, a lot of those people haven't been able to keep seahorses long term so that while there ARE some long term success keeping RG with seahorses, it doesn't work out many more times. They basically are like clownfish in that there is some success but many more failures as they can become territorial, especially as they mature. In my 18 yrs I've read many posts on RC and the "org" where the royals have become problematic in seahorse tanks. The "org" lists them as a threat level 2 which means proceed with caution so it's hard to imagine a label such as "one of the most seahorse safe fish".
My own royal was a PITA and would continually be harassing the other fish in the tank including the powder blue.

 

[harrylikesfish]

Would a shrimp/goby pair be better?

 

[rayjay]

I have never had any experience with them so I can't honestly answer that. Here is the org's info on gobies.

seahorse.org - Tankmates

www.seahorse.org

 

[harrylikesfish]

Oke thanks!

 

[Paul B]

I always keep dragonface pipefish, very nice fish but my tank is very big and very old. I don't think you will be able to keep one long term in that tank. Sorry, but they eat constantly

 

[harrylikesfish]

Okay I think I won’t then.

 

[Paulie069]

So I’m thinking of getting a dragonface or white banded pipefish for my currently cycling biocube 32 after the refugium has been set up and the pods have established, but most care guides say that they have to be kept in pairs or small groups which I’m worried will put too much burden on the pods and the bioload. Can I keep just one? Tankmates will be 2 erectus seahorses and 1 royal gramma.

Two small pipefish won’t hit your bioload by much difference than one so I’d get a pair (nobody likes to be alone) if you wanna talk bioload my 65 gal tank has 12-13 fish (90% small) and 18 seahorses also mostly small and all Erectus and 2 pipefish and my system is fine,, I suggest a good clean up crew and a UV light

 

[ThePurple12]

My favorite pipefish is the bluestripe (my profile pic). Apparently they’re the easiest to train onto frozen, and they only grow to about 3 inches, so not as much of a bioload increase or pod population decrease. It’s always nice to keep them in pairs.

 

[Paulie069]

I'm not sure if you'll be able to culture enough copepods for a big pipefish. Maybe you will, but I'd suggest getting it trained onto frozen mysis like the seahorses. Good luck!

Both my pipefish now eat frozen mysis and brine shrimp along with a treat of bbs every other day

 

[Paulie069]

I'd never put a royal gramma in with seahorses. They can add too much stress to the seahorses, especially as they get bigger.

I guess I’m just the guy who goes against the grain all time(not on purpose) I got a gramma just because I liked it’s color. I have never had a problem between my ponies and the gramma. Just my experience I’m no pro

 

[Paulie069]

Would a shrimp/goby pair be better?

I have 2 gobys in my tank purple Firefish goby and reg Firefish goby,, just to add I have a flame angel and a blue devil damsel also very large pajama Cardinalfish along with 18 seahorses and can honestly saw not even one problem or fight ( as of yet) so you just never know

 

[zzyz]

So I’m thinking of getting a dragonface or white banded pipefish for my currently cycling biocube 32 after the refugium has been set up and the pods have established, but most care guides say that they have to be kept in pairs or small groups which I’m worried will put too much burden on the pods and the bioload. Can I keep just one? Tankmates will be 2 erectus seahorses and 1 royal gramma.

Dragonface eat brine shrimp nauplius but banded pipefish don't. The latter eat live pods or shrimp larvae. I have cultured some shore shrimps primarily for that purpose.