Banded Pipefish Tank Mates

fishchef · 11/03/2009, 09:57 PM

About a year ago in my established 125 mixed reef I had two Dragon Faced Pipefish. They were doing very well and their tank mates seemed to leave them alone. There was a Ph spike which was caused by me and I lost several fish including the Pipes. Now about a year later I have the opportunity to pick up a couple of Banded Pipefish in great condition and eating prawn eggs. Their tank mates will be a small Purple Tang, a medium Kole Tang, one large Foxface, one small Clown, some Cardinals, 2 Salley crabs, one China Wrasse, assorted corals (LPS, SPS, and assorted leathers). The only difference in tankmates will be the Purple Tang. There's lots of old live rock and places to hide. Lots of opinions out there, looking for more.

basser1 · 11/03/2009, 10:00 PM

Just a suggestion....... but this may get more responses in the seahorse & pipefish section.

fishchef · 11/03/2009, 10:02 PM

Thanks

rgentry123 · 11/03/2009, 10:05 PM

to me that seems a bit too agressive a tank for pipefish but if you've had it work before i would have to say you must know what your doing. are you sure they were getting enough food? how long did you keep them in the tank before they died?

fishchef · 11/03/2009, 10:14 PM

I had them for about 6 months before I caused the problem. I was using a buffer to get my dKH up and caused a spike which caused some fish to eventually die along with the pipes. They were eating prawn eggs and I have a lot of copepods. They're really cool, but I'm cautious. I was reading in the Seahorse & Pipe Forum about someone who keep them with Triggers. I have lots of places for them to hide. We'll see.

Eric the half-bee · 11/04/2009, 09:53 AM

I've had success w/ a pair of Janns' pipes in my 400. They stay in the rockwork and occassipnally show themselves. Housed with them- triggers, tangs, clowns, a zebra moray and various wrasses. Nobody bothers them and they stay fat picking food off the rock.

fishchef · 11/04/2009, 12:26 PM

Thanks for the positive reply. Most local LFS say not a good idea, but on-line people with experience have found it to work. Always risky with any fish. My Purple Tang is still being bullied by the Foxface. He was initially chased around by my Kole. There's lots of cover and food for them. We'll see.

mysterybox · 11/04/2009, 07:33 PM

crab need to go, and although most fish will keep pipes "under the radar", some just might nip.

fishchef · 11/04/2009, 09:12 PM

Thanks for the input. The crabs were purchased to clean hair algae and have been in the system for a long time. They've never been fish aggressive. Have you had these problems?

mysterybox · 11/04/2009, 10:09 PM

eventually, they will get more aggressive. they will most likely eat your pipes & other fish as they mature.

SMOOTHIE · 11/05/2009, 02:23 AM

What lps do you have? More aggressive corals can really injure these slow easy going guys

Elysia · 11/05/2009, 04:40 PM

The sally lightfoot was the first thing that raised my eyebrow, mostly because they are often herbivores when young but grow into carnivores. The flagfin pipes, such as the bandeds, will be more "flight of fin" than the dragonfaces that you had, but it doesn't hurt to proceed with caution. Especially since the bandeds will likely bed down in a cave somewhere, making them easy prey for any critter that will take live fish. An "innocent" snap to other fish can be lethal to a pipe.

11/03/2009, 09:57 PM	#1
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 81	Banded Pipefish Tank Mates About a year ago in my established 125 mixed reef I had two Dragon Faced Pipefish. They were doing very well and their tank mates seemed to leave them alone. There was a Ph spike which was caused by me and I lost several fish including the Pipes. Now about a year later I have the opportunity to pick up a couple of Banded Pipefish in great condition and eating prawn eggs. Their tank mates will be a small Purple Tang, a medium Kole Tang, one large Foxface, one small Clown, some Cardinals, 2 Salley crabs, one China Wrasse, assorted corals (LPS, SPS, and assorted leathers). The only difference in tankmates will be the Purple Tang. There's lots of old live rock and places to hide. Lots of opinions out there, looking for more.

11/03/2009, 10:05 PM	#4
rgentry123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: fredericksburg, VA Posts: 589	to me that seems a bit too agressive a tank for pipefish but if you've had it work before i would have to say you must know what your doing. are you sure they were getting enough food? how long did you keep them in the tank before they died? __________________ there is going to be an episode of intervention based on me soon if someone doesnt come up with a 12 step program for this hobby soon. And i have RC members to thank for enabling me. Current Tank Info: 110G reef tank, 90 #'s lr, 2" sand bed, 30 gal. sump, deltec ap600skimmer, nova extreme t5 8 bulb lighting system

11/04/2009, 09:53 AM	#6
Eric the half-bee Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Right here, right now. Posts: 340	I've had success w/ a pair of Janns' pipes in my 400. They stay in the rockwork and occassipnally show themselves. Housed with them- triggers, tangs, clowns, a zebra moray and various wrasses. Nobody bothers them and they stay fat picking food off the rock. __________________ There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism-Teddy Roosevelt I'm gonna be on you like ugly on a Baldwin brother-RD Mercer Current Tank Info: Semi agressive reef

11/04/2009, 07:33 PM	#8
mysterybox Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA (North ATL) Posts: 1,034	crab need to go, and although most fish will keep pipes "under the radar", some just might nip. __________________ Ralph Current Tank Info: 85 custom Starfire with Acros, Montis, Clams, Turbinaria, 2 F Percs, 2 Dragonface Pipes (since 10/23/2006), Yasha Hase & Pinkbar w Pistols, Melanurus, Halichoeres Cosmetus, Mr. & Mrs. MM Leopard Wrasse, Paracheilinus rubricaudalis

11/04/2009, 10:09 PM	#10
mysterybox Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA (North ATL) Posts: 1,034	eventually, they will get more aggressive. they will most likely eat your pipes & other fish as they mature. __________________ Ralph Current Tank Info: 85 custom Starfire with Acros, Montis, Clams, Turbinaria, 2 F Percs, 2 Dragonface Pipes (since 10/23/2006), Yasha Hase & Pinkbar w Pistols, Melanurus, Halichoeres Cosmetus, Mr. & Mrs. MM Leopard Wrasse, Paracheilinus rubricaudalis

11/03/2009, 10:00 PM	#2
basser1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: So. Indiana Posts: 695	Just a suggestion....... but this may get more responses in the seahorse & pipefish section.

11/03/2009, 10:02 PM	#3
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 81	Thanks

11/03/2009, 10:14 PM	#5
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 81	I had them for about 6 months before I caused the problem. I was using a buffer to get my dKH up and caused a spike which caused some fish to eventually die along with the pipes. They were eating prawn eggs and I have a lot of copepods. They're really cool, but I'm cautious. I was reading in the Seahorse & Pipe Forum about someone who keep them with Triggers. I have lots of places for them to hide. We'll see.

11/04/2009, 12:26 PM	#7
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 81	Thanks for the positive reply. Most local LFS say not a good idea, but on-line people with experience have found it to work. Always risky with any fish. My Purple Tang is still being bullied by the Foxface. He was initially chased around by my Kole. There's lots of cover and food for them. We'll see.

11/04/2009, 09:12 PM	#9
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 81	Thanks for the input. The crabs were purchased to clean hair algae and have been in the system for a long time. They've never been fish aggressive. Have you had these problems?

11/05/2009, 02:23 AM	#11
SMOOTHIE Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Valdosta GA Posts: 290	What lps do you have? More aggressive corals can really injure these slow easy going guys

11/05/2009, 04:40 PM	#12
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,054	The sally lightfoot was the first thing that raised my eyebrow, mostly because they are often herbivores when young but grow into carnivores. The flagfin pipes, such as the bandeds, will be more "flight of fin" than the dragonfaces that you had, but it doesn't hurt to proceed with caution. Especially since the bandeds will likely bed down in a cave somewhere, making them easy prey for any critter that will take live fish. An "innocent" snap to other fish can be lethal to a pipe.