Best pods to buy for dragon pipefish?

[ice fish]

Curious what people use. Just picked up my first this wednesday and super happy with him. I have a leopard wrasse that also picks at pods so id like to make sure i keep a good population up even with my fuge thats maintains a good population. Any suggestions on a good place to buy and replenish pods? Thanks

 

[Salty1962]

Coral Reefing Products and Algae Barn are good places.

 

[ice fish]

Thank you

 

[Paul B]

You will never be able to buy enough pods to feed a pipefish. You need to hatch brine shrimp every day. Here is a video of mine eating from a baby brine shrimp feeder. They will eat thousands of shrimp a day.


Here is another video. Dragnoface pipes will also take the live shrimp from the surface.



Your leopard wrasse will also eat from the feeder. Here is another video.

 

[rumen]

Tisbie copepods would be best imo because they are so small it perfect for those small mouths

 

[akitareefer]

I've got a blue stripe, banded and dragon face all eating frozen. As for pods I'd recommend tisbe pods and live brine until you can get them interested in frozen. Like Paul said It will be almost impossible to keep pod populations up in your display

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Agreed that it's best to jump on training that guy to eat frozen.

 

[ice fish]

Been working on trying to get him on frozen. He seems interested but not there yet. Putting selcon and garlic on it to try and entice him. Having seen him go after it yet though

 

[ice fish]

any suggestions on making him more interested on the frozen?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I used brineshrimp to train. I started with live, then switched to frozen. After they took that well, I would introduce a few frozen mysis among the brine. Eventually they would take a mysis and the deal was sealed.

 

[ice fish]

I dont know anywhere here that cultures brine shrimp. Not sure how ill get those.

 

[ice fish]

Also wouldnt buying pods be better then giving them brine shrimp? Just curious

 

[Lionfish Lair]

The brine is for training using the "transitional method". Copepods are a very nutritionally sound food, but I don't know of a method to convert them directly from live copepods to frozen mysis. I guess we also used to pour in the mysis everyday and hope they would take some, but that's a less an reliable method.

 

[ice fish]

I feed LRS frozen so thats why im a bit hesitant on switching out my feeding. I was hoping he would eventually start taking to it as he saw the other fish feed. He seems to swim up as if he wants it but i dont see him go after much. I think ive seen him eat a piece or two but thats speculation. The brine shrimp sound more of a hassle then what it seems worth while as i would have to hatch them myself.

 

[Paul B]

Also wouldnt buying pods be better then giving them brine shrimp? Just curious

No, new born brine shrimp are very nutritious as they are mostly an oily yolk sack. After a day or so their nutritional value drops substantially.
All my pipefish, mandarins, ruby red dragonettes are constantly spawning on new born brine shrimp. I don't train them to eat frozen anything because they should have live food as that is what they eat in the sea and they need to eat constantly. That's why I built that feeder.

 

[ice fish]

Alright...So suggestions on making a brine shrimp hatchery and what brand to use?

 

[SDdiver]

Alright...So suggestions on making a brine shrimp hatchery and what brand to use?

http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/c9/hatchery-dish-p183.html
Best hatchery I've used to hatch moderate quantities, its super easy to use, I keep mine above the tank, very low profile, black color, 1/4 tsp of eggs will hatch throughout 2-3 days so you will have a constant supply of baby brine shrimp feeding 2x a day morning and night. I use tank water that I've saved from water changes, the included handy dispenser is easy to use, doesn't require an air pump. Keeps my fish and corals happy plus live food means they help keep the tank clean verse with dead food which adds to debris/ nutrient load.

 

[locito277]

No, new born brine shrimp are very nutritious as they are mostly an oily yolk sack. After a day or so their nutritional value drops substantially.
All my pipefish, mandarins, ruby red dragonettes are constantly spawning on new born brine shrimp. I don't train them to eat frozen anything because they should have live food as that is what they eat in the sea and they need to eat constantly. That's why I built that feeder.

Anywhere I can check out your feeder and how you made it?

 

[DanConnor]

I use that hatchery dish too; very easy.