TankBud

African red-striped pipefish

Microphis aculeatus

Also known as Red-stripe pipefish, Freshwater longnose pipefish, West African pipefish

FreshwaterBrackishFish

African red-striped pipefish (Microphis aculeatus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
7.0–8.2
Adult size
7.9 in
20 cm
Minimum tank
32 gal
120 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Pouch brooder · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Syngnathidae
Origin
West Africa, Senegal to Angola

Overview

The African red-striped pipefish is a slow, gentle West African pipefish for a calm, mature tank. It is best left to experienced keepers.

Did you know

An African red-striped pipefish often rests motionless at an angle among plants and waterlogged branches. Holding still like this, it is nearly impossible to pick out. It leans into the disguise, drifting stiffly like a stick until prey comes within reach of its snout.

Caring for the African red-striped pipefish

Keep a small group of African red-striped pipefish in a calm, mature, densely planted tank of at least 32 gal (120 L). Give them fine sand, some wood and calm flow. Hold the water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. A small addition of salt is optional, not required.

It eats slowly and takes only small live or freshly thawed foods, such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and blackworms. Food competition is the main risk. Keep the group on its own, or with very gentle surface fish that leave the bottom in peace.

Unusually for a pipefish, the male is the colorful sex, with a red stripe down the back and a patterned snout. He broods the eggs in a pouch under his trunk for one to three weeks, then releases fully formed young about 1.5 cm long. With no marine larval stage, it is one of the few freshwater pipefish with documented captive breeding, including a published public aquarium account. Breeding it is still hard.

Good to know

Microphis aculeatus is a pipefish in the family Syngnathidae. Most of the fish in the trade are exported from Nigeria.

In the wild

The African red-striped pipefish comes from coastal rivers, creeks and estuaries of West Africa, from Senegal south to Angola. It lives among marginal plants and sunken wood in slow, warm water that ranges from fresh to lightly brackish.

Common questions

What size tank does an African red-striped pipefish need?

An African red-striped pipefish needs at least 32 gal (120 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an African red-striped pipefish need?

An African red-striped pipefish is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.

What does an African red-striped pipefish eat?

An African red-striped pipefish takes only small live or freshly thawed foods, such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and blackworms. It eats slowly, so other fish competing for food are the main risk.

How big does an African red-striped pipefish get?

An adult African red-striped pipefish reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).

How can you tell a male African red-striped pipefish from a female?

Males are the colorful sex, which is unusual for a pipefish. A male has a red stripe down the back and a patterned snout.

How does an African red-striped pipefish breed?

The male African red-striped pipefish broods the eggs in a pouch under his trunk for one to three weeks. He releases fully formed young about 1.5 cm long, and captive breeding is documented but still hard.

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