Description
A slender, elegant pipefish with a dark blue body and a bright electric-blue lateral stripe running from snout to tail. It has a long tubular snout and small, fluttering fins that give it a hovering swimming style. Closely related to seahorses, it often rests against rocks or hovers vertically in calm water. Peaceful and delicate, it is highly specialized in feeding behavior.
Lighting
Low to moderate lighting
(Prefers subdued, calm environments; strong lighting can cause stress)
Placement (Aquarium Zone)
Lower reef zones and sheltered areas
Needs low-flow zones, rock crevices, and calm resting points
Temperature
24–27°C (75–81°F)
Salinity
1.020–1.025 SG
pH
8.1–8.4
Alkalinity
8–12 dKH
Diet
Specialized micro-carnivore
Live copepods (primary food source)
Amphipods
Baby brine shrimp (enriched)
Frozen mysis (trained individuals only)
Requires mature tank with stable pod population
Adult Size (up to)
~7–10 cm (3–4 inches)
Care Level
Advanced to expert
(Diet-dependent and sensitive to competition and water quality)
Compatibility
Very peaceful and fragile
Best kept in species-only tanks or with other very peaceful microfauna feeders
Reef-safe
Poor compatibility with fast or aggressive feeders (will outcompete it for food)
Can be kept with seahorses in carefully planned systems
