Banded Pipefish (Dunckerocampus Dactyliophorus)

Species Name : Dunckerocampus Dactyliophorus

Care Level : Expert Only

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Black, Red, White, Yellow

Diet : Carnivore

Reef Compatible : With Caution

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 7"

Origin : Indo-Pacific

Family : Syngnathidae

Minimum Tank Size : 50 gallons

The Banded Pipefish (Doryrhamphus Dactyliophorus) is also known as Banded Pipe fish, Ringed pipefish and Ringed pipe fish.

The Banded Pipefish has a long, slender body with a tiny, tubular mouth and an oval, flag-like tail. The body is creamy white with dark red to black vertical rings from the snout to the tail. The tail is bright red with a white margin and dot in the center.

This social species is best kept in mated pairs or groups of its own kind in an aquarium that is 50 gallons or larger. If rocky materials are included in the aquascape, a sheltered cave will be greatly appreciated. While they are stronger swimmers than seahorses, they prefer weaker water currents.

It is a peaceful and reef safe species. This pipefish is normally kept in species aquariums or combined with other pipefish species and seahorses. It can be kept with ornamental invertebrates since it will leave them alone, but should never be combined with organisms equipped with stinging tentacles such as (certain) corals and anemones because this can cause injury to the pipefish. Aggressive fish species must also be avoided because the peaceful pipefish cannot fend for itself and it can be hard to escape from bullies the confined space that is an aquarium. Triggerfish, porcupinefish, wrasses and blennies are generally poor choices.  

Foods and feeding are undoubtedly the most critical aspect of this animal’s husbandry. It normally prefers to eat only live copepods in a mature reef aquarium with plenty of live rock or macroalgae. An ideal diet to start this fish on is Live Copepods and vitamin-enriched live baby brine shrimp. However, live baby brine should not make up the majority of its diet. Over time, the Banded Pipefish may become accustomed to eating  small Mysis, and Nutramar Ova. It should be fed at least three times a daily for continued health.