Bluestripe pipefish
Doryrhamphus excisus
Also known as Bluestripe cleaner pipefish, Blue-stripe pipefish, Indian blue-stripe pipefish, Flagtail pipefish
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
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Origin
- Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific, living in caves and crevices on coral reefs where it cleans other fish.
- Family
- Syngnathidae
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.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Bluestripe pipefish?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Dwarf seahorse
Hippocampus zosterae1.4 in (3.5 cm)5 gal (20 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Brazilian seahorse
Hippocampus reidi6.7 in (17 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Lined seahorse
Hippocampus erectus7.1 in (18 cm)29 gal (110 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Yellow seahorse
Hippocampus kuda7.9 in (20 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Banded pipefish
Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus7.5 in (19 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blue Assessor
Assessor macneilli2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)