{"product_id":"freshwater-pipefish","title":"Freshwater Pipefish (Doryichthys martensii) 10cm","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"nta-product\"\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"nta-title\"\u003e\nFreshwater Pipefish (\u003cem\u003eDoryichthys martensii\u003c\/em\u003e)\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"nta-tagline\"\u003e\nDelicate, graceful and completely unlike conventional aquarium fish, the Freshwater Pipefish is a fascinating Southeast Asian species related to seahorses. Its slender body, tubular snout and gentle hovering movements make it an exceptional feature fish for experienced aquarists with mature, peaceful aquariums and reliable access to appropriately sized live foods.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuick Facts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScientific name: \u003cem\u003eDoryichthys martensii\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCommon name: Freshwater Pipefish, Martens’ Freshwater Pipefish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCurrent size: Please refer to the selected size option\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdult size: Approximately 12–15 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTank size: 75L+ recommended\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDifficulty: 🔴 Advanced\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTemperament: Extremely peaceful and delicate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSocial needs: Best kept singly, as a pair or in a peaceful group\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this for you?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e✔️ Perfect if:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou want a rare and highly unusual freshwater feature species.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou maintain a mature aquarium with stable water quality.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou can provide small live foods several times each week.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou keep only gentle tank mates that will not compete aggressively for food.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e❌ Avoid if:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour aquarium is newly established or unstable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou can only provide flakes, pellets or large frozen foods.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou keep fast, boisterous or aggressive fish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou want a hardy beginner species or conventional community fish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy choose Freshwater Pipefish?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nFreshwater Pipefish are close relatives of seahorses and share many of their most distinctive characteristics. Their long armoured bodies, small fins and narrow tubular mouths create a graceful appearance unlike almost any other freshwater aquarium fish.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nRather than chasing food aggressively, they move slowly through plants and submerged roots while searching for tiny crustaceans, insect larvae and other live prey. Their gentle hunting behaviour is fascinating to observe, but it also means they can be easily outcompeted by ordinary community fish.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nThese pipefish are best suited to experienced aquarists who can provide a quiet, mature aquarium and monitor feeding carefully. They should be selected for their specialised behaviour and unusual appearance rather than their suitability for a general community setup.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBenefits\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHighly unusual seahorse-like appearance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGraceful hovering and hunting behaviour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompletely freshwater species\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExtremely peaceful temperament\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdeal feature fish for specialised planted aquariums\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFascinating male brooding behaviour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box nta-warning\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCare made simple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTemperature: 24–28°C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003epH: 6.0–8.0\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiet: Live baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, mosquito larvae, copepods and other small aquatic invertebrates\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater: Very clean, stable and well oxygenated with gentle filtration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlow: Low to moderate, avoiding strong currents that make feeding difficult\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSetup: Dense plants, mosses, fine branches, roots and sheltered hunting areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeed small meals regularly and confirm that each pipefish is successfully capturing food.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDo not rely on dry food acceptance; many individuals require moving live prey.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePairs perfectly with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecies-only aquarium (recommended)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall peaceful Rasboras\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClown Killifish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePygmy Corydoras\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdult peaceful freshwater shrimp, with caution\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-highlight\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNTA Insight:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe greatest challenge with Freshwater Pipefish is not water chemistry—it is feeding. Their tiny tubular mouths are designed to capture small moving prey, and they may slowly lose condition if housed with faster fish or offered unsuitable food. A mature aquarium with natural microfauna, gentle flow and a dependable supply of live foods gives them the strongest chance of thriving.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eIs this a true freshwater pipefish?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. \u003cem\u003eDoryichthys martensii\u003c\/em\u003e is a freshwater pipefish from Southeast Asia and does not require marine-strength saltwater.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eWhat do Freshwater Pipefish eat?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are specialised micro-predators that feed on tiny live organisms such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, copepods and mosquito larvae. Some individuals may accept suitable frozen foods, but live food should be considered essential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eWill they eat flakes or pellets?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany Freshwater Pipefish will ignore conventional flakes and pellets. They respond most reliably to appropriately sized foods that move naturally through the water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eCan they live in a community aquarium?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly with great care. Tank mates must be extremely peaceful and must not outcompete them for food. A species-focused aquarium is generally the safest option.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eCan Freshwater Pipefish live with shrimp?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are generally peaceful toward adult shrimp, but they may consume shrimplets and other tiny crustaceans that fit inside their narrow mouths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow do Freshwater Pipefish reproduce?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike seahorses, the male carries the developing eggs in a specialised brood pouch beneath the tail until the young are released.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eAre Freshwater Pipefish suitable for beginners?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. They are best suited to experienced aquarists who can maintain stable water quality, provide suitable live foods and monitor each fish’s body condition closely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow can I tell whether a pipefish is eating enough?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA healthy pipefish should have a straight, well-filled body without a pinched or sunken abdomen. Observe feeding directly and ensure each fish is capturing food rather than assuming it is eating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n","brand":"AI Livestock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40901151359185,"sku":"","price":59.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0608\/5771\/2849\/products\/freshwater-pipe-fish-653030.jpg?v=1784864361","url":"https:\/\/nanotanksaustralia.com.au\/products\/freshwater-pipefish","provider":"Nano Tanks Australia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}