Pipefish???

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Polyptasaurus

Candiru
MFK Member
Jun 6, 2009
632
11
48
New York
Anyone ever have a freshwater pipe fish?

I think these guys look SO cool, anyone have any information on them? Like max size, diet, activity, aggression, etc.?
 
i heard they are chased around my almost every fish since they look so akward and end up being stressed to the max.
 
They are very difficult to keep alive, there a few different species mostly brackish and marine although there are said to be a few freshwater species. We got a batch of 10 in at work from 5-8" from thailand and we believed that they were one of the freshwater species, we had them in freshwater with a little salt.

Very difficult to keep alive we had them in a tank on their own most of the time although at one point we had them with some elephant nose and a few L# plecos. They dont take to dry or pelleted feed and only ate live wont even touch frozen. They have to be fed at least 2-3 times per day as they can starve themselves and dont last long without food, over the course of a few months we lost all 10 despite the best care.

Best leaving in your LFS.
 
Aquascape was selling some awhile ago...
 
Seems like you could make a species tank with just one or two in a larger setup and have enough live food in the tank to sustain them. If you put a 6 inch pipefish in a 50 gallon scud tank it should be happy enough.
 
I have no direct experience but everyone I've known to keep pipefish hasn't had much luck. Even if they have some mild success the fish never live out their full lives.
 
I had my SW ones a little over 2 years. They where also one of the larger species, They took large amounts of care and dedication. I've been tempted a few times by the few times i've seen the fw ones availabe, preping,planning, and luck. I'de prolly set up a tank much like a mini ray tank. shallow but wide dimensions. plant it very well for an extended period of monthes and establish perhaps a cherry shrimp colony in the tank to suppliment their diet. scuds might work, they just don't seem to replenish as quickly as shrimp do. effinately be a project in the works, and you'de liekly fail a few times before being able to keep the pipes happy.
 
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