{"title":"Pipefish","description":"\u003cp\u003ePipefish are close relatives of the seahorse, and they come with the same requirements. We stock the beady pipefish and the scribbled pipefish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey feed slowly, picking small prey off rock and sand throughout the day, and they cannot compete with fast moving tank mates at feeding time. A quiet tank with gentle flow, plenty of live rock and a healthy copepod population suits them, and many keepers run them in a species tank or alongside seahorses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are peaceful and reef safe, though they can be stung by some anemones and aggressive corals. Ask us about feeding status before ordering. See \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/shipping-delivery\"\u003eshipping and delivery\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"scribbled-pipefish","title":"Scribbled Pipefish | Corythoichthys intestinalis","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Scribbled Pipefish is a slender, endlessly charming relative of the seahorse, marked with fine reddish-brown \"scribbles\" along its snout and body. Reaching around 18 cm, it drifts and creeps over rock and sand in search of tiny prey. This is a specialist fish that rewards patience, a mature aquarium and a dedicated keeper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCorythoichthys intestinalis is found across the tropical Indo-Pacific, on shallow coral reefs, rubble slopes and quiet lagoon floors. It spends its days working slowly over the substrate and live rock, picking at the film of tiny crustaceans that live there. In the aquarium it does best in a settled reef or dedicated species tank with plenty of mature live rock, gentle water movement and abundant microfauna. A newly established tank rarely provides the constant supply of small live foods this fish depends on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe body is long, thin and pale, overlaid with intricate reddish to brown lines and speckles that give the \"scribbled\" name. The snout is tubular and the mouth tiny, suited to sipping minuscule prey. Movement is graceful and deliberate rather than fast. Healthy specimens are alert, feeding steadily and free of pinched bellies, cloudy eyes or lesions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a thoroughly peaceful, timid fish that will not compete with boisterous or fast-moving tank mates. It is easily out-competed at feeding time and can be stressed by aggressive fish. It is best kept in a calm reef or species tank with equally gentle companions such as small gobies, seahorses or other pipefish. Multiple pipefish can be kept together in a large, food-rich system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding is the main challenge with this species and the reason it is considered expert-only. The tiny mouth requires very small foods: live copepods, baby brine shrimp, rotifers and amphipods are ideal. Some individuals can be weaned onto enriched frozen mysis or cyclops, but many will only take live foods, so a reliable pod culture or a heavily seeded refugium is a great help. Feed small amounts several times a day.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of 75 L, with 100 L or more recommended, ideally as a mature reef or dedicated species aquarium. Maintain 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Keep water movement gentle so the fish is not blown about, and guard intakes so it cannot be drawn against them. Stable, pristine water and a rich population of live foods are the keys to success.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike other pipefish, males brood the eggs, carrying them on the underside of the body until the young are released. Breeding has been achieved in dedicated setups but rearing the tiny fry requires a continuous supply of appropriately sized live foods and is beyond most home aquariums. For most keepers the goal is long-term health rather than breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCorythoichthys intestinalis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScribbled Pipefish (Banded Pipefish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific reefs, rubble slopes and lagoons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e18 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful and delicate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExpert\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 L or larger (mature system)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; tiny live foods such as copepods and baby brine, some accept enriched frozen\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature, peaceful reef or dedicated species aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes (safe with corals; keep only with peaceful tank mates)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include small peaceful gobies, seahorses, other pipefish, firefish and other gentle, slow-feeding reef fish in a calm aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with fast, boisterous or aggressive fish such as larger wrasses, dottybacks, hawkfish and triggers, as well as any species that will out-compete it for tiny foods or harass it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234120679715,"sku":"AA2979-S","price":40.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234120712483,"sku":"AA2979","price":45.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234120745251,"sku":"AA2979-L","price":50.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-16cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55351918887203,"sku":"AA2979-XL","price":60.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/scribbled-pipefish-43090654462243.webp?v=1790305589"},{"product_id":"beady-pipefish","title":"Beady Pipefish | Hippichthys penicillus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Beady Pipefish is a slender, mesmerising specialist for the dedicated keeper. Related to seahorses, it drifts slowly through the aquarium picking tiny foods, and it needs a mature, peaceful tank with a steady supply of small live and frozen foods. It is not a fish for a busy community system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the wild, the Beady Pipefish is associated with estuaries, mangroves, seagrass beds and slow coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific. Unusually, it is euryhaline, tolerating marine, brackish and even fresh water, and in aquaria it often does best in weakly brackish conditions. Replicating this environment means providing calm water, fine substrate, seagrass or macroalgae and plenty of gentle hiding structure. A mature, stable, low-flow system with an established population of small live foods suits it best.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Beady Pipefish has the long, thin, segmented body and small tubular snout typical of pipefish, with a subtle mottled pattern that gives good camouflage among plants. It reaches around 16–18 cm. Its slow, deliberate movement and delicate feeding are part of its appeal. Healthy specimens are alert, feeding steadily and well-filled along the body, without a sunken or pinched appearance, which in pipefish is a common early sign of a fish that is not eating enough.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is best described as peaceful and delicate. It is easily outcompeted for food and stressed by boisterous tank mates. Suitable companions are other slow, gentle fish such as small gobies, dragonets and seahorses in a dedicated system. Avoid fast, greedy feeders, aggressive fish, and anything large enough to harass or eat it. This is very much a species-tank or peaceful specialist-tank animal rather than a general community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding is the central challenge. Offer frequent small feeds of enriched live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, live and frozen Artemia, copepods and small mysis. Many individuals need live foods to begin feeding and only later accept frozen. A mature tank with a self-sustaining population of copepods and amphipods greatly improves success. Feed several times a day and watch body condition closely, as pipefish decline quickly if underfed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor long-term success, provide a minimum aquarium size of 100 L for a dedicated pipefish system, with a larger, mature tank preferred for stable live-food populations. If kept brackish, a specific gravity around 1.005–1.010 is often used; in a marine system aim for around 1.020–1.026. Maintain temperature at 24–26°C and pH 8.0–8.4. Keep flow gentle, provide fine substrate, seagrass or macroalgae and abundant calm shelter. Use gentle filtration with protected intakes and carry out regular small water changes. Stable, mature conditions and a reliable food supply matter far more than tank size alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike other pipefish, males brood the eggs, carrying them on the underside of the body until the young are released. Breeding is occasionally achieved by dedicated keepers, but rearing the tiny young requires abundant small live foods and very stable conditions beyond normal home aquarium keeping. For most keepers the practical focus should be on getting the fish feeding well and maintaining stable, peaceful conditions rather than breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHippichthys penicillus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeady Pipefish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific estuaries, mangroves and seagrass beds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16–18 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 years with excellent care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful and delicate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 L (dedicated system)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarger mature tank for stable live foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; small live and frozen foods, fed frequently\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–26°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.0–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEuryhaline; ~1.005–1.010 brackish or 1.020–1.026 marine\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDedicated, mature pipefish or peaceful specialist systems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe with caution (peaceful only)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other slow, gentle species such as small peaceful gobies, dragonets and seahorses in a dedicated, calm system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with fast or greedy feeders, aggressive or territorial fish, and any fish large enough to harass or eat it. Avoid strong flow and unprotected filter intakes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234149024035,"sku":"BA8801-S","price":40.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234149056803,"sku":"BA8801","price":45.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234149089571,"sku":"BA8801-L","price":50.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-18cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55351951884579,"sku":"BA8801-XL","price":60.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/beady-pipefish-43090654396707.webp?v=1790306125"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/collections\/Beady_Pipefish_Hippichthys_penicillus_eeba26a1-bdcd-4613-a1ca-f68e9e59ff54.jpg?v=1788252778","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/collections\/pipefish.oembed","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}