Banded Pipefish
Banded Pipefish is backordered and will ship once an order is placed. Contact us for delivery timeframes.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
We highly advise same day airfreight for all fish shipping, although overnight courier is also available nationwide.
- Airfreight is a flat $75 rate anywhere in NZ and can include up to 10 fish/coral for the single charge. We can also include dry goods/frozen food in the order, up to a total weight of 75kg.
- Overnight courier is $25-50 depending on the destination and polybox used.
For more information on shipping, head to our shipping page!
What we're feeding
What we're feeding
Nutrition, like humans, is important for fish. You get out what you put in. Therefore, EMA places great emphasis on providing all our fish a varied diet. Below is an example of what our fish are currently feeding on:
- Fauna Marin Soft Multi Mix
- Fauna Marin Veggie Flakes
- Frozen Nutrition Mysis
- Frozen Nutrition Formula One
- Frozen Nutrition Formula Two
- Live Brine Shrimp
- Fauna Marin 100% Natural Green Seaweed
- Cockles (Mainly for butterflies/angels, available from your local supermarket).
All our staff are trained in fish nutrition, so if you require any guidence, please ask! Frozen/Dry food can also be sent with your airfreight consignment with no extra charge, so add these to the order if you wish and we will combine them into a seperate box.
Acclimation tips
Acclimation tips
Adjusting to a new aquarium is the most stressful event a fish can go through, so it's important to understand the following for long term success:
- Consider your existing fish. When adding a new fish, often existing fish can become aggressive to assert their dominance. This can be hard on the new fish, due to the stress of moving aquariums and then dealing with aggressive fish. Consider removing the existing fish using a fish trap (ours is available for loan, just ask) and place any aggressive fish in the sump for a couple of weeks while the new fish adjusts to their new home.
- Always acclimate without any lights on. Bright light can be stressful, especially when a fish has been in transit.
- Slowly open the box to avoid light stress
- Use the float acclimation method and ensure acclimation isn't too long - we recommend up to 30 minutes.
- If a fish is showing signs of stress during acclimation, consider speeding up the acclimation. Remember, stress is the number one killer of fish.
- Once you've adjusted to salinity and temperature through acclimation, release the fish into the aquarium (but not the bag water).
- Give the fish space. Although adding a new fish is an exciting time, remember that the fish is stressed, so give the fish space while he/she settles in. Avoid sudden movements, running around the tank or tapping on the glass.
- Have realistic expectations. It is normal for new fish to take a while to eat, or show natural behaviours. This is a transition period, so the less stress you can place the fish under, the better the long term result.
- Ask. Seems obvious, but our staff can't help if we don't know. Always feel welcome tor each out for advice. You can either use our Chat function 24/7, or email/Facebook us.
EMA's Promise.
Qualified, Honest Advice Using Techniques & Protocols that we use ourselves.
Description
Description
Important: Banded Pipefish require a highly specific environment, similar to seahorses. Low flow systems with peaceful tankmates is essential. They are currently feeding on frozen brine & mysis shrimp, supplemented with live baby brine shrimp, and they should be offered this daily or at least a couple of times per week. Please do not purchase unless you can provide the appropriate care and environment. Thank you.
The Banded Pipefish (also known as the Flagtail Pipefish) is a unique and elegant reef species closely related to seahorses. Unlike their cousins, they are more active swimmers and rarely rest on the substrate. In the wild, they inhabit reef areas beneath rocky overhangs and corals, often staying near the seafloor.
They feature a long, slender, cream-colored body with distinct vertical bands ranging from dark red to black. Their tail is bright red with a white margin and a central white spot, giving it a flag-like appearance.
Due to their specialized dietary needs, Banded Pipefish are best suited for experienced aquarists. They typically feed on live copepods in mature reef aquariums rich in live rock or macroalgae. Ideal starting foods include live copepods and vitamin-enriched live baby brine shrimp. They may eventually accept frozen alternatives, but this is not guaranteed.
This species is social and thrives best when kept in mated pairs or small groups. A minimum tank size of 50 gallons is recommended. Suitable tankmates include peaceful, slow-moving fish such as small gobies, seahorses, dragonets, and firefish. Avoid housing them with aggressive, territorial, or fast-swimming species. Anemones, stinging corals (like large Euphyllia or LPS), and predatory invertebrates such as large shrimp or crabs should be avoided, as they can pose serious risks to the pipefish.
Breeding may occur in aquariums when the fish are well-fed. After an intricate courtship dance, the female attaches adhesive eggs to the male’s brood patch on his underside. Mature males typically appear flatter in the abdomen, while females have a more rounded profile—though sexing is not always straightforward.
Our Quarantine Procedures
Our Quarantine Procedures
We take livestock seriously. That's why we don't sell anything we wouldn't be comfortable putting in our own tank.
As we are direct from source, we import and sell direct to the public. This means you can buy with confidence knowing EMA prides itself on excellent handling and conditioning protocols.
All our fish held in a quarantine system for a minimum of 3 weeks. During this time, regular water changes are performed, and twice daily (or sometimes more) feedings are performed.
Copper is dosed and checked twice a day for ich and velvet.
During this treatment fish are given formalin baths for brooklynella and a minimum of 3 praziquantel doses is performed for flukes.
Payment & Security
We offer a number of different payment methods, including Credit Card, Afterpay, Q Card, Pay at Collection, Bank Transfer and POLi.
Credit card payments are processed securely using the highest possible security protocols.
