Pipefish in a 20 gallon?

[ssminnow81]

Can I do a pair or trio of pipefish in a 21 gallon (20x20x12)?

 

[lfsmarineguy]

What species are we talking about?

 

[ssminnow81]

I would like alligator pipefish, but i would do blue striped. Oh and this will be connected to my 125 display.

 

[BrooklynReefer]

The alligators get pretty big (up to around 10 inches). If the blue lines are a Doryrhamphus sp they do not get big and a few should be fine in a 20 gallon. Two alligators max, would probably be OK, but eventually they may feel cramped. Give them marco algae and rock to move around and they will probably be happy. The main thing is keeping them well feed as they get larger. Since they are wild caught they are used to feeding continuously through the day (Syngnathids do not have true stomachs so food passes through them more quickly then most fish) and often they gradual waste away without multiple feeding per day, or a healthy population of pods to scavenge. Try to get them small and they are easier to acclimate. However, my experience is with keeping Atlantic, not Indo-pacific species.