Network Pipefish (Corythoichthys flavofasciatus)

Network Pipefish Corythoichthys flavofasciatus
Name	Network Pipefish
Name Lat.	Corythoichthys flavofasciatus
Family	Pipefishes & Seahorses
Family lat.	Syngnathidae
Order	Pipefishes & Seahorses
Order lat.	Syngnathiformes
Origin	Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea
Habitat	Lagoons, seaward reefs
Diet	Carnivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Pair
Reef Compatible	Yes
Care Level	Difficult
Life Span	5-10 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	12 cm
Temperature	23-27 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 200 l
US Units
Size	5"
Temperature	73-81 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 50 gal

Distribution and habitat

The Corythoichthys flavofasciatus have a wide range, from the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, Indonesia to the Ryukyu Islands and northern Australia in the Western Pacific. There they live in pairs in lagoons with sandy bottoms between algae-covered reefs and corals as well as on outer reefs down to 25 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 usually form monogamous pairs, accordingly they should be kept in pairs. Multiple pairs should only be maintained in a much larger tank. They are well suited for keeping in an invertebrate tank and should only be socialized with other small, very calm fish. 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

Breeding in the aquarium has been successful several times. After courtship, the female transfers the eggs into the brood organ of the male. After 10-14 days the small larvae hatch and 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