Pipefish

[matt.radich]

are pipefish reef safe? And if so where do you guys go about getting them? Also do they eat aiptasia?

 

[cdrewferd]

They are reef safe. Ambrosia Aquatics has them often. He's a sponsor. Not sure about them eating aptasia. I'm getting one to control my hoard of pods.

 

[kmellon]

I can't imagine that they would eat aptasia. They are really small and seem to root around looknig for pods.

 

[matt.radich]

Hmm, well is there a fish that is reef safe and eats aiptasia? Or am I just gonna get a Peppermint and hope its not a camel

 

[jahmic]

Aiptasia eating filefish...though I've heard they also pick at lps.

If you don't have wrasses, maybe try to find some berghia nudibranches? I was thinking about trying one...but I'm certain my yellow coris would make a quick meal out of one.

 

[JNG]

Catfish Charlies seems to always have them for pretty good prices. Not far from Longmont.

 

[SteveT]

It's pretty easy to distinguish the camel shrimp from a peppermint. Camel shrimp have much more vivid colors and a more angular body. Now knowing the difference between the species of peppermint shrimp that eat aptasia and the ones that don't is harder. I have heard that the species that will eat aptasia have black tails and the other type do not. however I have also heard that they are identical in every way other than their location that they live (are collected). Not sure which to believe.
Camel shrimp
[attachment=61861:name]
peppermint shrimp

 

[projectx]

Copper Banded butterflys also eat aptasia

 

[Ambrosio Aquatics]

anything that eats aiptasia might eat other coral as well, i have never heard of pipes eating it tho. peppermint shrimp, certain tile fish and copperbands are usually the safest bet but i have seen them all munch on other types of coral

 

[hurrafreak]

Personally I've had awesome luck with peppermints and have never seen them munch on any of my corals.

 

[a bag of it]

I've had pretty bad luck with peppermints, right after they finished off the aiptasia, they went after my hammer coral. I like the idea of a copperband butterfly, what do they eat that makes them not reef safe?

 

[303travism]

I've had pretty bad luck with peppermints, right after they finished off the aiptasia, they went after my hammer coral. I like the idea of a copperband butterfly, what do they eat that makes them not reef safe?

Feather dusters for one thing I believe a couple more thing but can't remember

 

[Ambrosio Aquatics]

i have seen copperbands eat zoas, and lps but as with any animal you never know what they will do until they do it
(including humans i.e the face eating zombie guy in miami that only had weed in his system!!!!wtf)

 

[MattL]

Pipe fish may not like th current in a reef.