Welcome To The Fish Index! We Are Maintaining A Growing Encyclopedia Of Fish Species Listed From A-Z! Choose From Our Categories Or Browse The Fish Featured Along The Sides By Clicking Their Pictures. Each Fish Includes Detailed Information, Pictures, Video And User Comments! With Over 30,000 Different Species In The World, Our Team Of Fish Experts Are Constantly Being Challenged To Discover New Species. Sample "The Fish Of The Day" Or Browse Our Impressive Selection Of Aquarium Fish!
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The Ornate Ghost Pipefish or Solenostomus paradoxus is one of the hardest fish to spot in the ocean. First of all they are relatively small, only growing to about 12cm in maximum length. This combined with the fact that their bodies look more like coral or seaweed than an actual saltwater fish, makes them a master of camouflage!
This species is just one of the over 200 different species of Pipefish! As you can see in the pictures they are long and slender with a tiny mouth and appendages that cover their bodies and help them to blend into their surroundings. Ornate Ghost Pipefish are normally found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans in and around reefs. They come in a variety of colors including black, yellow, red and even transparent! You can check out the Ornate Ghost Pipefish underwater in the video below...
Also known as the Harlequin Ghost Pipefish, they will spend most of their days floating upside down with their mouth pointed downwards. They use their mouths as a vacuum of sorts to consume their food, normally tiny crustaceans. If you know any more information about this close relative to the Seahorse, please leave us a comment.
The Bluestripe Pipefish is a very odd shaped Pipefish who's scientific name is Doryrhamphus excisus. This saltwater fish can be kept in an aquarium setting, but it is considered to be an advanced aquarium fish. The Bluestripe Pipefish has a slim body with a tubular mouth and an odd shaped tail which really defines this fish. The tail is shaped like a flag with bright yellow, orange, red and white colors, and is wider than any other part of its body. The rest of the fish is orange with a blue stripe that runs down both of the sides. The Bluestripe Pipefish is not very large, only growing to about 6" in maximum length. These fish are often much more active at night than during the day. You can check out the Bluestripe Pipefish in action in the video below...
One of the reasons these fish are so hard to keep in an aquarium is because they are easily harassed by other more aggressive fish including Blennies, Wrasses, Tobies, Triggerfish, and Porcupine Fish. They also have unusual carnivorous feeding requirements. When first introduced to a tank they will only eat live copepods in a reef aquarium with lots of live rock to graze on. After they become accustom to their surroundings, they will start to accept frozen Mysis, Nutramar Ova and Brine Shrimp. An aquarium with plenty of hiding spots and at least 40 gallons in size is recommended. The following water conditions are recommended 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, and sg 1.020-1.025. This species of Pipefish does well in mater pairs or one male and many females. The Male Bluestripe Pipefish can become very territorial if they are kept in a small aquarium with multiple males. Some fish that are compatible with the Bluestripe Pipefish are Gobies, Seahorses, Dragonets, and Firefish.
Much like the Black Seahores, this species preforms a painstaking courtship dance before the female Bluestripe Pipefish attaches her eggs right to the underside of the male's trunk. It is said that they are quite easy to breed if you can get their feeding schedule down properly.
The Dragonface Pipefish or Corythoichthys haematopterus is a slightly difficult creature to take care of, but worth all the work. This unique salt water fish has the ability to move its eyes in just about any direction and its long slender appearance makes it a favorite for an advanced aquarist much like its close relative the Tiger Tail Seahorse. The Dragonface Pipefish is a natural defender against Red Bugs which have been known to destroy entire reef colonies. A reef aquarium that is very mature and has lots of micro-crustaceans to feed on is highly recommended. You should also have caves or overhangs for them to hang out in. Dragonface Pipefish thrive in warmer salt waters around 70-80 F and grow to 8" in length. They feed on copepods, amphipods,brine shrimp, amphipods, mosquito larva, and daphnia. This fish is also known as the Dragon Pipefish, Messmate Pipefish, or Reeftop Pipefish . You can check out the Dragonface Pipefish with your own eyes in the video below...
The Bluestripe Pipefish is a very odd shaped Pipefish who's scientific name is Doryrhamphus excisus. This saltwater fish can be kept in an aquarium setting, but it is considered to be an advanced aquarium fish. The Bluestripe Pipefish has a slim body with a tubular mouth and an odd shaped tail which really defines this fish. The tail is shaped like a flag with bright yellow, orange, red and white colors, and is wider than any other part of its body. The rest of the fish is orange with a blue stripe that runs down both of the sides. The Bluestripe Pipefish is not very large, only growing to about 6" in maximum length. These fish are often much more active at night than during the day. You can check out the Bluestripe Pipefish in action in the video below... 
The Dragonface Pipefish or Corythoichthys haematopterus is a slightly difficult creature to take care of, but worth all the work. This unique salt water fish has the ability to move its eyes in just about any direction and its long slender appearance makes it a favorite for an advanced aquarist much like its close relative the Tiger Tail Seahorse. The Dragonface Pipefish is a natural defender against Red Bugs which have been known to destroy entire reef colonies. A reef aquarium that is very mature and has lots of micro-crustaceans to feed on is highly recommended. You should also have caves or overhangs for them to hang out in. 
Dragonface Pipefish thrive in warmer salt waters around 70-80 F and grow to 8" in length. They feed on copepods, amphipods, brine shrimp, amphipods, mosquito larva, and daphnia. This fish is also known as the Dragon Pipefish, Messmate Pipefish, or Reeftop Pipefish
