Freshwater pipefish

[Hillz McGillz]

A few months ago I acquired 2 freshwater pipefish. Considering the shop I bought them from wasn't sure what they were eating and had only had them 3 days, they sold them to me under cost (evidently they were a special order and the customer didn't purchase them) and I knew I was taking a risk. Blessedly they're still holding strong, I'm feeding them blackworms, live baby brine shrimp and I'm introducing frozen brine and mysis with the live food now and they're starting to accept it. I'm very excited and want to know if:
A. Anyone else has a lot of experience with freshwater pipefish,
B. If anyone knows good online sources to acquire them; and
C. if anyone has kept different species from the same regions together? I assume if the water quality requirements are nearly exactly the same, it shouldnt be an issue?
My setup is a 40 gallon breeder 3/4 full, planted, both submerged and floating plants with a sponge filter, small internal cheapo filter(these are merely to keep decent but not excessive flow in the tank) and a nano tunze internal filter with an adjustable flow rate and rated for up to 30 gallons. I believe* I've correctly identified them as doryichthys deokhatoides. I could be wrong though. The store could not provide any scientific name. I've read what I could find but I haven't found many good information sources or publications on the different species of pipefish. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[neko1]

i have some experience with them.
b, no
c, no

They are a pain in the ass to keep to be honest. They are beautifull but because of their small stomach you need to feed them multiple times a day. Mostly they will only eat life food so that was a problem for me.

 

[tlindsey]

I don't have any experience with Pipefish but have experience with Seahorses. I agree with neko1 that they have to eat multiple times a day like their cousin the Seahorse. I eventually weaned Seahorses off of live adult Brine Shrimp to Frozen Mysis Shrimp. Had Seahorses spawn but did have Live Rock in the setup as well. So Coepods were available for them to eat also. The Mysis Shrimp will be better nutritionally than adult Brine Shrimp imo. Had Seahorses live over 2yrs on the Frozen Mysis.

 

[tlindsey]

I don't have any experience with Pipefish but have experience with Seahorses. I agree with neko1 that they have to eat multiple times a day like their cousin the Seahorse. I eventually weaned Seahorses off of live adult Brine Shrimp to Frozen Mysis Shrimp. Had Seahorses spawn but did have Live Rock in the setup as well. So Coepods were available for them to eat also. The Mysis Shrimp will be better nutritionally than adult Brine Shrimp imo. Had Seahorses live over 2yrs on the Frozen Mysis.

The Wetspot may be a good source to get Pipefish.

 

[Hillz McGillz]

i have some experience with them.
b, no
c, no

They are a pain in the ass to keep to be honest. They are beautifull but because of their small stomach you need to feed them multiple times a day. Mostly they will only eat life food so that was a problem for me.

Fortunately I've been able to get them eating (feeding live brine and blackworms twice a day with frozen now introduced and they're actually taking interest.) 5 gallon water changes every 2-3 days with about 10% tap (my tap water is very basic and heavy), 10% saltwater, 40% lightly buffered RODI water and about another 40% from my 8 year old 90 gallon freshwater mostly S.A plecos. and they're even beginning to eat prepared foods tor me. Tbh I've cared for saltwater fish that were more demanding than these little guys are. I love them. I'm breeding the blackworms and brine as well as springtails ( I keep plaudariums) and copepods (I have a reef tank as well) I have no complaints about feeding them, personally.

 

[Hillz McGillz]

I don't have any experience with Pipefish but have experience with Seahorses. I agree with neko1 that they have to eat multiple times a day like their cousin the Seahorse. I eventually weaned Seahorses off of live adult Brine Shrimp to Frozen Mysis Shrimp. Had Seahorses spawn but did have Live Rock in the setup as well. So Coepods were available for them to eat also. The Mysis Shrimp will be better nutritionally than adult Brine Shrimp imo. Had Seahorses live over 2yrs on the Frozen Mysis.

Fortunately I've been able to get them eating (feeding live brine and blackworms twice a day with frozen now introduced and they're actually taking interest.)EDIT: I've had them since January. They get 5 gallon water changes every 2-3 days with about 10% tap (my tap water is very basic and heavy), 10% saltwater, 40% lightly buffered RODI water and about another 40% from my 8 year old 90 gallon freshwater mostly S.A plecos. and they're even beginning to eat prepared foods tor me. Tbh I've cared for saltwater fish that were more demanding than these little guys are. I love them. I'm breeding the blackworms and brine as well as springtails ( I keep plaudariums) and copepods (I have a reef tank as well) I have no complaints about feeding them, personally.

 

[Hillz McGillz]

I don't have any experience with Pipefish but have experience with Seahorses. I agree with neko1 that they have to eat multiple times a day like their cousin the Seahorse. I eventually weaned Seahorses off of live adult Brine Shrimp to Frozen Mysis Shrimp. Had Seahorses spawn but did have Live Rock in the setup as well. So Coepods were available for them to eat also. The Mysis Shrimp will be better nutritionally than adult Brine Shrimp imo. Had Seahorses live over 2yrs on the Frozen Mysis.

You've basically cared for pipefish if you have seahorses. do you know if yours are captive raised? Atlantic? Pygmys? I love pictures! Pygmys are the toughest to keep fed imo.

 

[Hillz McGillz]

The Wetspot may be a good source to get Pipefish.

Thanks! I'll check that one out

 

[tlindsey]

You've basically cared for pipefish if you have seahorses. do you know if yours are captive raised? Atlantic? Pygmys? I love pictures! Pygmys are the toughest to keep fed imo.

Haven't had Saltwater setup's since the late 90's lol. No pygmy but Hippocampus Kuda the Yellow Seahorse. If I downsize my freshwater aquariums I may setup a Nano Reef and have a couple of Seahorses again but they are not cheap.