| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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12-21-2004, 10:07 PM
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#1
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Shark
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Danbury, CT
Posts: 845
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Pipefish need help!
Purchased two banded pipefish and was skeptical about buying them with all the reading I have done regarding how difficult they are to keep in a reef tank. It has been about 24 hours and they have no interest in any food I have given them. I have tried live brine shrimp, frozen blood worms, frozen veggie mixes, and frozen brine. Any ideas what these guys would eat. Oh!! also tried to add garlic to the food.. didn't work. 
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12-21-2004, 10:58 PM
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#2
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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maybe try brine larvae. this is why they are difficult. they look for food that is a certain size.
good luck,
G~
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Think Tanker
Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
Reef Knowledge Impaired
"J" crowd member.
My Build Thread
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12-21-2004, 11:04 PM
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#3
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Shark
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Danbury, CT
Posts: 845
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okay, where can I get brine larvae. I have never seen it at the local fish shops?
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12-22-2004, 08:47 AM
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#4
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I run with scissors
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Boston
Posts: 713
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To quote Dr. Foster & Smith:
"The Banded Pipefish is difficult to keep in an aquarium and should be kept with other pipefish and seahorses in a separate species-only tank that is 55 gallons or larger with multiple caves and overhangs. It will not harm ornamental invertebrates in a reef setting. DO NOT HOUSE it with invertebrates with stinging tentacles (most corals and anemones), because they can harm it. The Banded Pipefish reacts poorly when harassed by other more aggressive fish such as blennies, wrasses, tobies, triggerfish, and porcupinefish.
The diet should consist of small live invertebrates such as vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, baby guppies, grass shrimp, mosquito larva, and daphnia. If the Banded Pipefish will eat them, frozen mysid shrimp provide good nutrition. It needs to be fed at least three times per day, and is a very slow eater because of its tiny tubular mouth."
Hope this Helps.....
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Anthony
30 gallon AGA, 2 X 96w Sattalite PC, Remora skimmer, CPR 18" HO Refugium.
29 gallon AGA, 1 Purple "Spilo" Sanchezi Piranha
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12-22-2004, 11:00 AM
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#5
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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the problem with that quote is that the suggestions are to big for them to eat. the banded pipefish is a small little guy. mysis that you buy frozen are rather large.
you can not get brine larvae from the LFS. you have to grow them yourself.
G~
__________________
Think Tanker
Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
Reef Knowledge Impaired
"J" crowd member.
My Build Thread
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12-22-2004, 11:14 AM
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#6
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I run with scissors
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Boston
Posts: 713
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Geoff
the problem with that quote is that the suggestions are to big for them to eat. the banded pipefish is a small little guy. mysis that you buy frozen are rather large.
you can not get brine larvae from the LFS. you have to grow them yourself.
G~
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Good to know----I have never owned one myself.......Anthony
__________________
Anthony
30 gallon AGA, 2 X 96w Sattalite PC, Remora skimmer, CPR 18" HO Refugium.
29 gallon AGA, 1 Purple "Spilo" Sanchezi Piranha
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12-22-2004, 12:18 PM
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#8
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I run with scissors
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Boston
Posts: 713
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Cool link Brian
__________________
Anthony
30 gallon AGA, 2 X 96w Sattalite PC, Remora skimmer, CPR 18" HO Refugium.
29 gallon AGA, 1 Purple "Spilo" Sanchezi Piranha
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12-22-2004, 01:18 PM
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#9
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Shark
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Danbury, CT
Posts: 845
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what if i chop up the shrimp?
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12-22-2004, 02:09 PM
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#10
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Overthinks Everything
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Crystal, MN
Posts: 867
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Have you tried soaking the food in garlic?
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~Brian
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12-22-2004, 02:10 PM
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#11
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I run with scissors
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Boston
Posts: 713
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Sounds like a trial and error type of thing Adam..........It will not hurt to give it a shot..............Anthony
__________________
Anthony
30 gallon AGA, 2 X 96w Sattalite PC, Remora skimmer, CPR 18" HO Refugium.
29 gallon AGA, 1 Purple "Spilo" Sanchezi Piranha
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12-22-2004, 02:19 PM
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#12
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Shark
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Danbury, CT
Posts: 845
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yeah I soaked it in garlic... no response  |
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12-22-2004, 02:59 PM
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#14
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I run with scissors
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Boston
Posts: 713
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I was just reading on a site that said to hatch your own brine with one of those $10 kits. It says that the pipe fish will atack freshly hatched brine----couldnt find much more info.---Good Luck
__________________
Anthony
30 gallon AGA, 2 X 96w Sattalite PC, Remora skimmer, CPR 18" HO Refugium.
29 gallon AGA, 1 Purple "Spilo" Sanchezi Piranha
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12-22-2004, 03:10 PM
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#15
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Overthinks Everything
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Crystal, MN
Posts: 867
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After doing some reading I think the biggest thing is feeding them in a way that means they won't have to compete for food & can be slow about eating. That's why something like that feeding station is used in a larger tank.
What kind of flow do you have going on in your tank? Do you turn the pumps off to feed? Pipefish are low flow creatures.
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~Brian
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