TankBud

Barhead pipefish

Microphis leiaspis

Also known as Coelonotus leiaspis, Bud river pipefish, Bar head pipefish

FreshwaterBrackishFish

Barhead pipefish (Microphis leiaspis)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
7.5 in
19 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
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Syngnathidae
Origin
Western Pacific islands, Indonesia to the Solomon Islands

Overview

The barhead pipefish is a slow-feeding stream pipefish for a calm tank. It remains one for dedicated, experienced pipefish keepers.

Did you know

Barhead pipefish are amphidromous, so they start life with a trip to the ocean. Newly hatched larvae ride the current downstream to the sea. They return months later as tiny juveniles and climb back up into the island streams, sometimes well inland, where they live as adults.

Caring for the barhead pipefish

Give barhead pipefish a calm, mature tank of at least 32 gal (120 L), with gentle flow. Use fine substrate with smooth stones and planted cover. Keep the water fresh or very lightly brackish, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0.

It feeds slowly on live foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and small blackworms. Wild imports can take time to settle and feed. It is mostly peaceful, but add tank mates with caution and keep out anything that competes for food.

The male carries the eggs in a pouch under his trunk. Because of the marine larval stage, captive breeding has not been recorded.

Good to know

Microphis leiaspis was placed in the genus Coelonotus until recently. Occasional wild fish reach specialist importers, often at a steep price.

In the wild

The barhead pipefish lives in clear island streams of the western Pacific. Its range runs from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to the Solomon Islands and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Adults hold station near the bottom in flowing freshwater, often within reach of the tide.

Common questions

What size tank does a barhead pipefish need?

A barhead pipefish needs at least 32 gal (120 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a barhead pipefish need?

A barhead pipefish is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

What does a barhead pipefish eat?

A barhead pipefish feeds slowly on live foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and small blackworms. Wild imports can take a while to settle in and start eating.

How big does a barhead pipefish get?

An adult barhead pipefish reaches about 7.5 in (19 cm).

How does a barhead pipefish breed?

The male barhead pipefish carries the eggs in a pouch under his trunk. Captive breeding has not been recorded, because the larvae need a marine stage.

Related species