TankBud

Bluestripe pipefish

Doryrhamphus excisus

Also known as Bluestripe cleaner pipefish, Blue-stripe pipefish, Indian blue-stripe pipefish, Flagtail pipefish

SaltwaterFish

Bluestripe pipefish (Doryrhamphus excisus)
Andreas März from Flickr:[1] · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.0–8.4
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
26 gal
100 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Syngnathidae
Origin
Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific, living in caves and crevices on coral reefs where it cleans other fish.

Overview

This tiny fish suits a peaceful nano or small reef of around 100 litres with lots of live rock and a healthy population of copepods, at 24 to 27 C and pH 8.0 to 8.4. It needs frequent tiny foods, mainly live copepods plus small frozen items like cyclops and baby mysis, so a mature tank or attached refugium helps a great deal. Keep it only with slow, gentle tankmates, as any boisterous fish will outcompete it. It is coral safe but should be watched around stinging anemones.

In the wild

The bluestripe pipefish is the smallest reef pipefish in the trade, a tiny orange body no longer than a finger with a brilliant electric-blue stripe down the side and a fan-shaped tail. It hovers in caves and overhangs, often upside down, and picks minute prey from the rock. It is peaceful and delicate and works as a natural cleaner.

Good to know

Doryrhamphus excisus reaches only about 7 cm and sets up small cleaning stations where it removes parasites and dead tissue from larger fish. The male broods the eggs beneath his tail like other pipefishes. Its bright blue stripe and flag tail advertise its cleaning service to passing fish.

Did you know

Despite being barely as long as a matchstick, the bluestripe pipefish runs its own cleaning station and will pick parasites off fish many times its size.

Common questions

What size tank does a Bluestripe pipefish need?

A Bluestripe pipefish needs at least 26 gal (100 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Bluestripe pipefish need?

A Bluestripe pipefish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.0–8.4.

How big does a Bluestripe pipefish get?

An adult Bluestripe pipefish reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

Related species