Want to enhance your knowledge about marine species? Check out facts about this beautiful fish, the banded pipefish! Hopefully, the color palette and the graceful movement of the fish will fascinate and catch your attention!The banded pipefish is a marine species of fish. The fish also goes by the name ringed pipefish. The fish looks similar to a flattened seahorse. It is found in temperate, subtropical, and tropical temperatures. The banded pipefish is a cousin of the seahorse. Seahorses and these fish are a part of the family Syngnathidae along with seadragons. It is a better swimmer than the sea horse. The Doryhampus and the Dunkerocampus together are referred to as the flagtail pipefish. It is named after its long snout which resembles a pipe.Like reading about this fish species? Want to know more about them? Let’s move further and dig in deep!If you like reading about this fish species, you may also like reading about the neon goby and round goby.
Fun Banded Pipefish Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Shrimp, microcrustaceans, planktons, brine shrimp, live copepods, mosquito larvae (in captivity)
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? N/A
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5.9-7.4 in (15-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, yellow, white, red bands all over with long snout
Skin Type Wet and slimy scales
What were their main threats? Humans
What is their conservation status? Micrognathus crinitus: Least Concern Corythoichthys intestinalis: Least Concern Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus: Not Listed
Where you’ll find them? Lagoons, Tide Pools, Marine Ecosystem-corals
Locations Indo-Pacific Ocean
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Dunckerocampus Micrognathus Corythoichthys
Class Actinopterygii
Family Syngnathidae
Banded Pipefish Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a banded pipefish?The banded pipefish is a fish belonging to the phylum Chordata and the order Syngnathiformes.What class of animal does a banded pipefish belong to?The Banded pipefish belongs to the class Actinopterygii.How many banded pipefish are there in the world?There are considerable numbers of banded pipefish in the world but the exact population remains unknown due to lack of evaluation. However, the population of banded pipefish is decreasing owing to destruction and loss of habitat.Where does a banded pipefish live?The Banded pipefish is found in the marine ecosystem. It is found in the corals, lagoons, and tide pools. The fish is found close to the shores in shallow waters. A sheltered environment consisting of reefs, crevices, and caves is preferred by the banded pipefish. Such an environment protects these small fish from predators.What is a banded pipefish’s habitat?The Indo-Pacific ocean serves as the banded pipefish habitat. The fish is found near Fiji, the Solomon Islands, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Caledonia, South Africa, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Japan.Who do banded pipefish live with?Banded pipefish often move about in small groups or schools. Mated pairs may also be observed swimming close to the reef.How long does a banded pipefish live?The banded pipefish lives around 5-10 years.How do they reproduce?The courtship dance in these fishes is elaborate. The male fish is equipped with a brood pouch. The female deposits the eggs in that brood pouch. Later, the male gives birth once the eggs are fully developed. This method of reproduction is also seen in other pipefishes and in seahorses. The eggs are incubated for about two weeks by the male. The eggs are adhesive in nature. In the pipefish, the development of the brood pouch varies with the species.What is their conservation status?According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, the Micrognathus crinitus and the Corythoichthys intestinalis are classified as species of Least Concern. However, the Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus is classified as Data Deficient, that is, sufficient data for the taxon is not available.Banded Pipefish Fun FactsWhat do banded pipefish look like?The banded pipefish has a slender body with prominent bands all around the body. The skeleton has armored plating. The species comes in varied colors including black, yellow, white, red. The tail of the species is oval in shape and red with a prominent white spot at the center. The body shape is very similar to that of an eel. These fishes have a dorsal fin. The prehensile tail may be present in some subspecies. The tail may be absent in others. It has a long snout. The gill openings are minuscule. It is difficult to determine the sex of these fishes. However, females are more round than males. Males have a flattened appearance due to the presence of the brood pouch.How cute are they?The species is very cute and colorful. It looks like a long and beautiful straw!How do they communicate?The sound produced by these pipefishes is specific to the species of the fish. The communication for the species is mainly acoustic with different signals for feeding and stress. The production of sound is based on the three bones, namely the supraoccipital, the first, and second postcranial plates.How big is a banded pipefish?The banded pipefish is small in structure. The length of this fish species is 7.4 in (19 cm). This pipefish is longer than the Corythoichthys intestinalis, whose length is 6.2 in (16 cm) as well as Micrognathus crinitus, which reaches a length of 5.9 in (15 cm). It is slightly bigger than a pinfish.How fast can a banded pipefish swim?This fish species moves around slowly in water. The speed is not like a shrimp that moves much faster. Swimming is done mainly using the small dorsal fin, hence the slow speed. However, information on the exact speed of these reef fish is not available.How much does a banded pipefish weigh?The information on the weight is not available for the species.What are the male and female names of the species?Males and females of this fish species do not have separate names as such.What would you call a baby banded pipefish?A small banded pipefish is called a fry. The juvenile fish is called a fingerling.What do they eat?The banded pipefish are carnivorous. In captivity, the fish may feed on frozen foods as part of the diet. Brine shrimp and mosquito larvae are a part of the diet as well. In the wild, these fish feed on shrimp, planktons, and microcrustaceans like live copepods. Small fishes also form a part of the diet.Are they poisonous?They are not harmful to humans and are not known to be poisonous, just like yellow tang.Would they make a good pet?These fish are preferred as pets cause of their bright skin color. Banded pipefish care is considered to be difficult. The tank size should be a minimum of 30 gals (113 lt). A larger tank of around 50 gals (190 lt) is a preferred choice. The tank should have live rock, reef-like structures, and caves. A mature reef tank is preferred. It gives a natural vibe to the artificial environment and helps the fish to adjust. Live copepods may be fed to the fish in the tank. They may also be fed brine shrimp, however, brine shrimp should not form a majority of the diet. Feeding should be vitamin-rich. Slowly the fish may get accustomed to feeding on frozen foods like Nutramar Ova and small mysids. Even when feeding foods that are frozen the nutrition balance should be kept intact. The water in the tank needs to be maintained properly. The ph level of water in the tank should be between 8.1 to 8.4. The temperature in the tank should be maintained at 72-78 F (22-25.5 C). The specific gravity in the tank should be maintained at 1.020-1.025. The degree of carbonate hardness in the water should be around 8-12 dKH. They may be reef compatible sometimes. The owner should exercise caution when it comes to the reef compatibility of the fish. Clearly, maintaining this fish is no easy task! The AlgaGen Tisbe biminiensis is considered to be the best foods for this fish.Did you know…The fish is found in the 33°N - 26°S latitude range.This fish does not have teeth. The mouth is small, oval, and is more like a straw. Food is sucked into the mouth.The position of the brood pouch varies in different species. The D. dactyliophorus has the pouch under its trunk while the Corythoichthys intestinalis has the pouch under the tail.This fish avoids coming in close contact with the substrate in the tank where it is kept enclosed.The banded pipefish can go up to a depth of 17-184 ft (5-56 m). Some pipefishes can be found at a depth of 1300 ft (400 m).The owner of this fish should be an expert. In a tank, the fish should not be kept with big crabs and big corals like the brain corals. Also, fast-moving fishes are not good companions for this fish. Anemones should be avoided as well. They may harm these fishes.The alligator pipefish is one that is mostly found in aquariums. It is interesting to note that pipefishes tend to search for seahorses when kept in the same enclosure. It is surreal to see these fishes floating in the tank together forming rows. They tend to stick together in an enclosure.The banded pipefish can be bred in captivity. It has been done successfully before.The banded pipefish eats slowly with its mouth. The owner should be careful so that other fishes in the tank do not snatch away the food. The fish should be fed at least three to four times a day.Different types of pipefishThere are about 200 types of pipefishes in the wild distributed in 51 genera. The Dunkerocampus has seven recognized species. These are the Redstripe pipefish, the Glowtail pipefish, the Many-banded pipefish, the Ringed pipefish, the Yellowbanded pipefish, the Broad-banded Pipefish, and the Dunckerocampus naia.The genus Doryrhamphus has six species: Doryrhamphus aurolineatus, Doryrhamphus excisus (Doryrhamphus excisus abbreviatus, Doryrhamphus excisus paulus, Doryrhamphus excisus excisus), the Doryrhamphus janssi, Doryrhamphus negrosensis (Doryrhamphus negrosensis negrosensis, Doryrhamphus negrosensis malus), Doryrhamphus japonicus, and Doryrhamphus bicarinatus.The family Syngnathidae includes the marine broad-banded pipefish (Dunckerocampus boylei), the marine many-banded pipefish (Dunckerocampus multiannulatus), and the marine brown-banded pipefish (Corythoichthys amplexus). The Corythoichthys amplexus habitat is in the western part of the Indo-Pacific ocean. It is found in the corals of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The many-banded pipefish is found in the Indian Ocean near the Andaman Islands, South Africa, and the Red Sea. This fish is ovoviviparous, that is, eggs are laid and hatched within the body of the parent. The Broad-banded pipefish is found in the Indian Ocean. The fish is named after Bill Boyle. The differences in these fish are in the color, nature of the bands around the body, and also in the body length. In the wild, these fishes are good cleaners and feed on small crustaceans from the body of other fishes. Some other types of pipefishes are the alligator pipefish, the broadnosed pipefish, and the straight nose pipefish.Are pipefish aggressive?These fish have a peaceful temperament. However, at times the banded pipefishes may be aggressive to their own kind. This behavior is seen mostly in the males of the fish.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these lambchop rasbora facts and pigfish facts for kids.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable banded pipefish coloring pages.
What type of animal is a banded pipefish?
The banded pipefish is a fish belonging to the phylum Chordata and the order Syngnathiformes.
Fun Banded Pipefish Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Shrimp, microcrustaceans, planktons, brine shrimp, live copepods, mosquito larvae (in captivity)
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? N/A
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5.9-7.4 in (15-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, yellow, white, red bands all over with long snout
Skin Type Wet and slimy scales
What were their main threats? Humans
What is their conservation status? Micrognathus crinitus: Least Concern Corythoichthys intestinalis: Least Concern Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus: Not Listed
Where you’ll find them? Lagoons, Tide Pools, Marine Ecosystem-corals
Locations Indo-Pacific Ocean
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Dunckerocampus Micrognathus Corythoichthys
Class Actinopterygii
Family Syngnathidae
Fun Banded Pipefish Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Shrimp, microcrustaceans, planktons, brine shrimp, live copepods, mosquito larvae (in captivity)
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? N/A
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5.9-7.4 in (15-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, yellow, white, red bands all over with long snout
Skin Type Wet and slimy scales
What were their main threats? Humans
What is their conservation status? Micrognathus crinitus: Least Concern Corythoichthys intestinalis: Least Concern Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus: Not Listed
Where you’ll find them? Lagoons, Tide Pools, Marine Ecosystem-corals
Locations Indo-Pacific Ocean
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Dunckerocampus Micrognathus Corythoichthys
Class Actinopterygii
Family Syngnathidae
Fun Banded Pipefish Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Shrimp, microcrustaceans, planktons, brine shrimp, live copepods, mosquito larvae (in captivity)
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? N/A
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5.9-7.4 in (15-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, yellow, white, red bands all over with long snout
Skin Type Wet and slimy scales
What were their main threats? Humans
What is their conservation status? Micrognathus crinitus: Least Concern Corythoichthys intestinalis: Least Concern Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus: Not Listed
Where you’ll find them? Lagoons, Tide Pools, Marine Ecosystem-corals
Locations Indo-Pacific Ocean
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Dunckerocampus Micrognathus Corythoichthys
Class Actinopterygii
Family Syngnathidae
Fun Banded Pipefish Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Shrimp, microcrustaceans, planktons, brine shrimp, live copepods, mosquito larvae (in captivity)
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? N/A
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5.9-7.4 in (15-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, yellow, white, red bands all over with long snout
Skin Type Wet and slimy scales
What were their main threats? Humans
What is their conservation status? Micrognathus crinitus: Least Concern Corythoichthys intestinalis: Least Concern Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus: Not Listed
Where you’ll find them? Lagoons, Tide Pools, Marine Ecosystem-corals
Locations Indo-Pacific Ocean
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Dunckerocampus Micrognathus Corythoichthys
Class Actinopterygii
Family Syngnathidae
What do they prey on? Shrimp, microcrustaceans, planktons, brine shrimp, live copepods, mosquito larvae (in captivity)
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? N/A
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5.9-7.4 in (15-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, yellow, white, red bands all over with long snout
Skin Type Wet and slimy scales
What were their main threats? Humans
What is their conservation status? Micrognathus crinitus: Least Concern Corythoichthys intestinalis: Least Concern Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus: Not Listed
Where you’ll find them? Lagoons, Tide Pools, Marine Ecosystem-corals
Locations Indo-Pacific Ocean
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Dunckerocampus Micrognathus Corythoichthys
Class Actinopterygii
Family Syngnathidae
What do they prey on? Shrimp, microcrustaceans, planktons, brine shrimp, live copepods, mosquito larvae (in captivity)
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? N/A
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5.9-7.4 in (15-19 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, yellow, white, red bands all over with long snout
Skin Type Wet and slimy scales
What were their main threats? Humans
What is their conservation status? Micrognathus crinitus: Least Concern Corythoichthys intestinalis: Least Concern Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus: Not Listed
What do they prey on?
Shrimp, microcrustaceans, planktons, brine shrimp, live copepods, mosquito larvae (in captivity)
What do they eat?
Carnivore
Average litter size?
N/A
How much do they weigh?
How long are they?
5.9-7.4 in (15-19 cm)
How tall are they?
What do they look like?
Black, yellow, white, red bands all over with long snout
Skin Type
Wet and slimy scales
What were their main threats?
Humans
What is their conservation status?
Micrognathus crinitus: Least Concern Corythoichthys intestinalis: Least Concern Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus: Not Listed
Where you’ll find them? Lagoons, Tide Pools, Marine Ecosystem-corals
Locations Indo-Pacific Ocean
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Dunckerocampus Micrognathus Corythoichthys
Class Actinopterygii
Family Syngnathidae
Where you’ll find them?
Lagoons, Tide Pools, Marine Ecosystem-corals
Locations
Indo-Pacific Ocean
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Dunckerocampus Micrognathus Corythoichthys
Kingdom
Animalia
Genus
Dunckerocampus Micrognathus Corythoichthys
Class Actinopterygii
Family Syngnathidae
