Dragonface Pipefish

SuncrestReef · Feb 14, 2019

My new pipefish seem to be getting comfortable in my tank. The first several days they stayed low on the sand, but now they're venturing up around the rocks and corals. They are so cute and fun to watch!

Screen Shot 2019-02-14 at 10.26.02 AM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-14 at 10.25.22 AM.png

Crabs McJones · Feb 14, 2019

Beautiful!

Nimitz87 · Feb 17, 2019

where did you purchase them? how did you guarantee a male/female?

SuncrestReef · Feb 17, 2019

Nimitz87 said:
where did you purchase them? how did you guarantee a male/female?

My LFS (Cuttlefish & Corals in Portland, OR) ordered them for me. I have no idea if they are male or female, nor did the store.

Nimitz87 · Feb 17, 2019

SuncrestReef said:
My LFS (Cuttlefish & Corals in Portland, OR) ordered them for me. I have no idea if they are male or female, nor did the store.

thanks my buddy speaks highly of that store, he just picked up a nice torch coral from them.

Sunny Goold · Mar 1, 2019

Gorgeous fish - I love these - definitely on my list [emoji3][emoji171][emoji122][emoji119]

minus9 · Mar 7, 2019

Love 'em. I have a male DF and would like to find a female eventually. Btw, males will have an orange/blue marking near their vent and the females are clear on their bellies.

Nimitz87 · Mar 8, 2019

minus9 said:
Love 'em. I have a male DF and would like to find a female eventually. Btw, males will have an orange/blue marking near their vent and the females are clear on their bellies.

that bit of information is extremely helpful, thanks!

SeahorseKeeper · Mar 8, 2019

They are really neat looking!! Good luck with them!!!

Booger McMoron · Mar 8, 2019

Do they eat pods like a dragonette (Mandarin Goby)? They are neat but I am careful not to add another competitor to my tank. I like my MG too much.

Nimitz87 · Mar 8, 2019

Booger McMoron said:
Do they eat pods like a dragonette (Mandarin Goby)? They are neat but I am careful not to add another competitor to my tank. I like my MG too much.

they are absolutely pod eaters first hear they can learn to eat stuff like cyclopeeze

SuncrestReef · Mar 8, 2019

Booger McMoron said:
Do they eat pods like a dragonette (Mandarin Goby)? They are neat but I am careful not to add another competitor to my tank. I like my MG too much.

I have read that they only eat live pods. My tank is full of pods, including red bugs attacking my acropora, which is why I got the pipefish. I don't have any other fish that eat pods, but I can understand the concern if you do.

Wickedfun · Mar 8, 2019

I saw my first live ones this week! How coincidental! Gorgeous little guys!

Sunny Goold · Mar 9, 2019

minus9 said:
Love 'em. I have a male DF and would like to find a female eventually. Btw, males will have an orange/blue marking near their vent and the females are clear on their bellies.

Wow - yeah super helpful - will have to lookout for that.

Sunny Goold · Mar 9, 2019

Booger McMoron said:
Do they eat pods like a dragonette (Mandarin Goby)? They are neat but I am careful not to add another competitor to my tank. I like my MG too much.

I saw on Dutch Reefer on YouTube - his got snatched by a gorilla crab but he did a focus on these fish and loved them. He feeds Masstick every Friday for the video and I recall they were getting into that and eating other food. I'd probably add some pods if you already have fish who solely rely on pods but I wouldn't ay you need a huge population and, from memory Dutch Reefer had a Mandarin he introduced I think whilst he still had the Dragons. I also think pre-Mandarins he had the Dragons but not a fuge.

He openly says they are difficult fish though and I think he introduced them to his tank pretty early on and didn't have more aggressive fish then. I will introduce mine early on too once I have pods and before I get any wrasse