Messmate Pipefish (Corythoichthys haematopterus)

Messmate Pipefish Corythoichthys haematopterus
Name	Messmate Pipefish
Name Lat.	Corythoichthys haematopterus
Family	Pipefishes & Seahorses
Family lat.	Syngnathidae
Order	Pipefishes & Seahorses
Order lat.	Syngnathiformes
Origin	Indo-West Pacific
Habitat	Lagoons, coral reefs
Diet	Carnivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Individual, pair
Reef Compatible	Yes
Care Level	Difficult
Life Span	5-10 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	15 cm
Temperature	22-28 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 200 l
US Units
Size	6"
Temperature	72-82 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 50 gal

Distribution and habitat

The range of Corythoichthys haematopterus extends from the East African coast through Australia to southern Japan and Vanuatu. They live in shallow, protected lagoons and coral reefs from 3-20 m depth.

Maintenance

They need a well structured aquarium with plenty of algae growth (Caulerpa), non-nettling corals (e.g. horn corals) and living stones that they can graze on (micro life forms) and that act like a biological filter as well as free sand areas. A weak current is ideal. Only substrates rich in lime and free of heavy metals may be used as substrate. Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must match the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals

Salinity: 33-36 ‰	pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH	Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l	nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l

For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to constantly good water quality.

Diet

In the wild they feed mainly on copepods, which they pick up from the bottom with their thin mouth tube. The food supply consists of live food, such as copepods and Artemia enriched with vitamins. It is recommended to change live stones more often to provide an additional food source. Sometimes they can be slowly acclimated to frozen foods (thawed), such as small mysis, bosmids, Artemia, etc. These slow feeders should be fed small portions several times a day

A regular and varied diet promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

They are very calm and peaceful animals that are best kept singly or in pairs. Keeping multiple pairs is only recommended in a larger and richly structured aquarium. They should only be socialized with other small, calm and non-aggressive animals that do not compete for food. It is better to keep them in a species tank.

Sex dimorphism

In males, the brood organ, a skin sac on the underside of the caudal peduncle, can be seen

Reproduction and breeding

The female transfers the eggs into the male's brood organ. After 10-14 days the small larvae hatch, they are released from the abdominal pouch and the brood care ends. Suitable food for rearing is phytoplankton and Artemia nauplii.

Important

These slow feeders can only take very small food, which they suck with their thin mouth tube. During feeding, the flow pump and filtration should be turned off

If different species are kept together, care should be taken to ensure that the fish match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements and social behavior, and that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. New fish to be introduced must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: KUITER, DEBELIUS (2007): Atlas der Meeresfische: Die Fische an den Küsten der Weltmeere, Kosmos Verlag; PATZNER & MOOSLEITNER (1999): Meerwasser Atlas Bd. 6, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF