Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
Site Supported in Part by:
SpectraPure 

Dunkerocampus

Dunkerocampus baldwini

(Herald & Randall, 1972)

Redstripe Pipefish

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Christmas Island, Indonesia, and the Hawaiian Islands.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits caves and crevices in sheltered rocky reefs at depths between 3 - 100 feet (1 - 30 m) where it feeds mainly on zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Extremely rare in the trade, yet quite attractive, having cream-colored body with lenghtwise red band.

As with others in this family (as there is little aquarium husbandry on this species) would be best maintained in small aquariums with minimum water currents, as this is a slow moving species. Aquarium environment should have sufficient caves and crevices that they can explore or take shelter as needed. Tankmates must be quite peaceful, as pipefish make good targets for fin-nipping species.

Even though only a live food consumer in the wild, a meaty diet such as enriched live adult brine shrimp and/or enriched frozen brine shrimp, mysis, and krill may suffice and should be offered twice daily by dispensing it up stream so the water current will slowly carry it towards the species.

May be difficult to feed in the early days in the aquarium and if so, live enriched adult brine shrimp should be offered several times daily. Over time, it may learn to accept various frozen foods.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Gasterosteiformes

    Suborder: Syngnathoidei

    Family: Syngnathidae

    Subfamily: Doryrhamphinae

    Genus: Dunkerocampus

FYI: This is a slow moving fish that can easily get sucked into an open intake siphon; therefore these type intakes must have a strainer on their intake areas.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Dunkerocampus baldwini (Redstripe Pipefish)
Photo © John Randall
Site Supported in Part by:
Premium Aquatics