TankBud

Freshwater pipefish

Doryichthys martensii

Also known as Black line pipefish

FreshwaterFish

Freshwater pipefish (Doryichthys martensii)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
5.9 in
15 cm
Minimum tank
32 gal
120 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Syngnathidae
Origin
Thailand, Sunda Islands

Overview

This slender pipefish is a slow, careful hunter that needs calm surroundings and cannot compete with quick, greedy tankmates. Keep it in a small group and only with peaceful, gentle fish. Feeding is the main challenge: most take only live or freshly thawed foods such as small shrimp, blackworms, and mosquito larvae, and many need live food to start. Give it a densely planted tank with fine substrate, some roots or branches, and gentle flow near the bottom where it spends its time. A tank of around 120 liters suits a small group.

In the wild

Doryichthys martensii lives in freshwater rivers and streams across Thailand and the Sunda Islands of Southeast Asia, moving slowly among plants and submerged roots in warm, clear to gently stained water. Recreate this with heavy planting, tangled wood for cover, fine sand, and calm, well-oxygenated flow. Keep the temperature between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius and the pH from about 6 to 7.5. Mature, stable water is important, as pipefish react badly to poor conditions.

Good to know

The freshwater pipefish is a member of Syngnathidae, the seahorse and pipefish family, and grows to about 15 centimeters. It has the long, ringed, armored body and small tubular snout typical of the group, feeding by drawing tiny animals in with a quick suck. As in all pipefish, the male carries the fertilized eggs, brooding them along the underside of his body until the young are released. Aquarium breeding is rarely documented.

Did you know

Like a seahorse, the freshwater pipefish reverses the usual roles of parenthood. The female passes her eggs to the male, who carries and protects them on his own body until the tiny young are ready to swim free.

Common questions

What size tank does a Freshwater pipefish need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Freshwater pipefish need?

A Freshwater pipefish is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

How big does a Freshwater pipefish get?

An adult Freshwater pipefish reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).

Related species