pipefish bloated

[lokshin55]

hi, i am new to this forum and to pipefish aquculture. just got a pair of pipefish and found a male this morning bloated and not eating. could he bear eggs or just plain sick? i don't know whether they stop eating when 'gravid'. Thanks fo advise. anna

[Amphibious]

Pictures would give us a better chance at answering your question.

What size tank? Water parameters? All info would help.

[CarmieJo]

Hello Anna and to TR. I will echo Dick's request for pix and info.

[lokshin55]

Thank you for your response and welcome. Unfortunately, the male died next day. He most likely had enteritis as a result of acclimation stress. I also suspect he could overeat (if this ever happens) since the tank was empty for a month and it grew a decent population of copepods that the pipefish devoured in less than 2 days. The female is doing fine. I have purchased another pair from the fish store. They were the last two pipefishes thay had from that shipment and they were not sure whether they will ever aquire this species again (they are either Corythoichthys haematopterus or Corythoichthys intestinalis) so I decided to have 2 females and a male rather than having a lonely female.
I have 12 gal Eclipse with corals and no other fish. Couple blue-leg hermits and small snails. Water quality is good, nitrates are <10..I read that pipefish need Ca++ so I will add some later. Anna

[CarmieJo]

to hear that you lost your fish.

On a happier note, I'd love to see pictures of your tank.

[fat walrus]

Pipefish should be left in the wild.

[lokshin55]

My tanks:110 gal fish, 70 gal coral, 12 gal for pipefish. Another 70 gal with brazilian dragon eel, lionfish and groupers is at work.

[CarmieJo]

Nice tanks! I especially like the mixture of rock in the fish tank.

[mysterybox]

I've have a pair of Corythoichthys haematopterus going on 2 years now in a full blown reef, so if you have any questions, please feel free to pm or ask.

and don't worry about that Fat pipefish policeman, he used to on the tang patrol but lost his badge.

[lokshin55]

Thank you very much for your post. I have a pair of pipefish remaining in the 12 gal tank since my first post. So far they are doing quite well. Hope this will continue.

[rayme07]

for the

[mysterybox]

Dragonface Pipes

[rayme07]

man i love pipe fish the colors in them are amazing i want to get one but to inexperienced to get one so I want to wait alooooooooooooooooooooog time to get one mabe. Thanks for the pipefish pics mysterybox I enjoyed them alot also great photo work

[lokshin55]

Yes, yes, that's them! Aren't they spectacular! And their behaviour - they are not like any fishes!

[mysterybox]

definitely my favorites! I love 'em! Thanks!