can anyone give me input on pipefish vs seahorses

[noah's nemo]

I've had a 29 tall up and running for a couple months,and it has 2 false percs.My son saw some seahorses at the LFS and now he wants some.I kinda like the ringed pipefish myself.Are horses harder to keep than pipes,and don't they need a mature tank.My question is do pipefish fall in the same league as horses?Does anyone have any?Thank you.

 

[shrimpy brains]

I don't think anyone on this board keeps pipefish. The following would be just my opinion from what I've read, for what that's worth.
Pipefish are very similar to horses and both should be kept in a tank that is designed with their needs in mind. Clowns would not be recommended tankmates for either pipes or horses. They are slow movers and slow feeders and clowns would eat most the food and also keep horses and pipes stressed out due to the fast paced activity of clowns.
Also, when buying horses, it is recommended to get them captive bred for many reasons. I don't think your pipefish would be captive bred, so if you do consider purchasing it(despite the compatability issues), find out what it is eating and make the lfs show you. Actuall see the fish eat or don't buy it as you may have trouble getting it to eat.
There are some great threads at the top of this forum about horses. I recommend google for better pipefish info. Hope this helps a little anyway.

 

[roxannej]

There's an Atlanta reefkeeper who keeps dragonface pipefish in a community tank. It's not something I would try, but he has a really good writeup here:
http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forum...light=pipefish

 

[noah's nemo]

Thank you both for the input.Its looks like i will hold off on them (for now).I think at some point i will try my luck with them,they look very unusual.I liked the ornate ghost on youtube.I'm a little suprised noone on here has any though.Well, thanks again,and i will let you know when i decide to try for myself.

 

[ann83]

Originally Posted by Noah's Nemo
http:///forum/post/3118067
I liked the ornate ghost on youtube.I'm a little suprised noone on here has any though.
Ghost pipefish rarely come into the hobby, and when they do, they are nearly impossible to keep long term in captivity. Even public aquariums have had a lot of difficulty. I don't know of anyone (or anywhere) that has kept them alive more than a few months.

 

[noah's nemo]

OK ,good to know.I just saw thru the link provided,that someone had one.I still like the ringed pipe that they sell on this site,but like i said,i will wait.