Care
***This delicate species is recommended for advanced aquarists only, who can dedicate a mature reef setting to these gentle elongate fish - either as a species-only set up, or with non-competitive placid tankmates only. They will NOT fare well in a typical community reef setting. Feeding can be challenging (see below) so be sure that you can provide an ongoing source of nourishment before purchase.***
In the wild, the Ringed Pipefish is known from outer reef slopes, lagoons, and tide pools. Here it the waters are calm and they may be found frequenting caves and crevices, either solitary or in small groups, to depths of 56m (184ft). The home aquarium must be tailored specifically to their needs. Filtration should be thorough, but water movement gentle. Ensure that these fish cannot be drawn against filter intakes or blown into the décor by current that is too vigorous. Provide plenty of shady overhangs amongst living rock, and shelter in the form of gorgonians, coral skeletons, marine plants and the like. Best maintained in pairs or small groups.
Feeding
Can be very challenging to feed. This species MUST be provided with natural prey on an ongoing basis. Live rock is always recommended, but a more constant supply of tiny live foods for this purpose can be reliably cultured in a fishless refugium. New additions often readily take live brineshrimp (try to gut load them first), but this alone does not provide enough sustenance. These fish should be weaned onto Mysis shrimp as soon as possible. Most specimens will refuse frozen foods, so be prepared to culture your own copepods, isopods, amphipods, Mysids etc. Feed several times daily, and ensure they are not being out competed for food by unsuitable tankmates.
Breeding
Ringed Pipefish may attempt to breed in the home aquarium. Courtship behaviour prior to spawning often involves elaborately choreographed displays and heightened colouration. These fish are external brooders. The male has a special spongy area located on his underside, referred to as a brood patch (in other species, where it is more of a chamber than a spongy area, it is known as a brood pouch) which the eggs adhere to whilst they develop. Once released, the miniscule fry are free-swimming, but at great risk from predation by the adults. A nursery tank and a supply of rotifers (later freshly hatched baby brineshrimp) will be necessary. The free-swimming fry have little in the way of a yolk sac and will need to be provided with food immediately.
