Pipefish - Freshwater Short Snout 10cm

Short Snout Pipefish 10cm

Short Snout Pipefish are essentially the closest species you will get in a freshwater aquarium to a seahorse. They are very closely related to the ocean-dwelling seahorse and pipefish but thrive in full freshwater settings which makes them an appealing species for experienced aquarists to try out. The sensitive nature and finicky eating habits of the short-snout pipefish mean that these fish truly need a lot of time and dedication required for them to thrive in the home aquarium. These pipefish will be a true eye-catching inclusion to a species-specific, biotope-style aquarium.

The long and slender shape of the Short Snout Pipefish adds a really interesting dynamic aquarium as they drift around the water almost looking like a loose stem floating around. Though the Short Snout Pipefish has a really small profile, they do get to around 15 cm long so the aquarium size they are kept in is quite important. They have quite a plain colour with the body colour being a mostly creamy yellow look with very minimal striping near the tail end. These pipefish have comical eyes that are constantly looking around for food, the dark colour of their pupils really stands out from the lighter body which also contrasts the red flash near the cheek plate. They also have fluttering dorsal and caudal fins that finish with a very small, circular tail fin.

Their simple but quirky aesthetic also offers hours of fun as they swim around the aquarium latching onto the aquascape and plants for support as they go through their never-ending pursuit of food. The Short Snout Pipefish can live up to 10 years and are a totally peaceful species but should only ever be kept in a species-specific setting because of how sensitive they are. Though these pipefish can live their full life in freshwater, they are actually found in brackish and almost saltwater settings. This extensive range in the wild also plays a massive role in their breeding as female pipefish deposit their eggs into the breeding pouch of males, the male then incubates the eggs and releases fully formed baby pipefish into marine estuaries or nearby brackish environments. Because of this, the Short Snout Pipefish cannot complete its full lifecycle in a pure freshwater setting, if you have the intention of breeding this fish, there are a lot of environmental conditions that need to be met for the fry to have the slightest chance to survive. The wild location of long-snout pipefish is in the Indo-Pacific region which even reaches northern parts of Australia.

Tank Recommendations for your Short Snout Pipefish

These pipefish will get to a maximum length of around 15 cm and require a tailor-made environment to suit their needs. The minimum aquarium size that these fish should be kept in is a 60-litre aquarium that is 60cm long, 30cm wide, and 30cm tall. Short Snout Pipefish requires very calm water and replicating this in the home aquarium would be best. Though the type of substrate used is not too much of a concern, these fish will appreciate harder water parameters with the PH at around 7.5 - 8.0. This can be easily achieved by using an aragonite sand substrate. The Short Snout Pipefish will also love plants like java moss and hardscapes they can wrap around such as Chola wood. These Pipefish are also tropical fish which are best kept at 24-26 degrees.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Due to their extremely peaceful and slow behaviour, the Short Snout Pipefish is best kept alone. They also require multiple feedings throughout the day and they can get easily outcompeted by other tank mates. If the choice is made to keep them with tank mates it should only be species that can act as clean-up crew or equally slow fish.

Usually Compatible

Borneo Suckers, Pearl Danios, Shrimp, and Snails will not outcompete the Short Snout Pipefish.

Sometimes Compatible

Pygmy Corydoras, Endler Guppy Zebra Danios, and other species pose a minimal but potential risk of outcompeting these pipefish.

Rarely Compatible

Any fast-moving species such as Black Widow Tetras, or Congo Tetras, or aggressive species like Red Tail Sharks will absolutely outcompete and even nip at the short-snout pipefish.

Feeding your Short Snout Pipefish

Much like their ocean cousins the Seahorses, the Short Snout Pipefish require regular feedings throughout the day to cope with their incredibly fast digestive system. Feeding them a variety of foods that will be suspended in the water column such as live baby brine shrimp, grind worms, frozen mysis shrimp, copepods, and similar species would be best. A minimum of 2 feedings are required and this can at times overwhelm the filtration in the aquarium leading to nitrate or ammonia spikes so it is always recommended to have ample filtration in the tank