Bluestripe Pipefish

Also known as the Blue-Striped Pipefish or Janss’ Pipefish

The Bluestripe Pipefish is a delicate and fascinating species that brings elegant movement and striking coloration to marine aquariums. Native to the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea to Hawaii and French Polynesia, this slender pipefish features a vibrant orange to red body adorned with distinctive blue horizontal stripes. With their specialized feeding requirements and shy temperament, Bluestripe Pipefish are challenging but rewarding additions for advanced aquarists with established, peaceful systems and dedication to meeting their unique care needs.

Key Features

• Scientific Name: Doryrhamphus excisus
• Common Names: Bluestripe Pipefish, Blue-Striped Pipefish, Janss’ Pipefish
• Adult Size: 6–7 inches (15–18 cm); commonly 5–6 inches in aquariums
• Lifespan: 3–5 years with proper care (challenging to maintain long-term)
• Temperament: Very peaceful and shy; delicate species
• Reef Compatibility: Completely reef-safe – ideal for peaceful reef aquariums
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons minimum (55+ gallons recommended)
• Experience Level: Advanced to Expert – requires specialized feeding and environment

Habitat & Tank Requirements

Natural Habitat: Found on coral reefs, rocky outcrops, and among branching corals at depths of 3–150 feet. Often observed in pairs hovering near caves and overhangs.

Tank Environment:

• Abundant rockwork with caves and crevices
• Branching coral structures for shelter (live or artificial)
• Peaceful environment absolutely essential
• Subdued to moderate lighting
• Low to moderate water flow (too strong causes stress)
• Mature reef system (6+ months established) strongly recommended
• Fine mesh over overflow openings

Water Parameters:

• Temperature: 74–80°F (23–27°C)
• Salinity: 1.023–1.025 specific gravity
• pH: 8.1–8.4
• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: <10 ppm (excellent water quality essential)
• Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH

Diet & Feeding

Recommended Foods (Major Challenge):

• Live copepods, amphipods, microfauna (most readily accepted)
• Frozen copepods, cyclops, baby brine shrimp (if trained)
• Enriched live brine shrimp
• Live mysid shrimp (occasional)
• Extremely difficult to wean onto frozen foods
• Requires continuous supply of live foods for long-term success

Feeding Schedule:

• Feed 2–4 times daily (small stomach requires frequent meals)
• Continuous access to live microfauna essential
• Target feed with pipette or turkey baster
• Slow eaters; ensure adequate feeding time without competition
• Regular copepod supplementation or refugium cultures required

Behavior & Compatibility

Tank Mates:

• Compatible with: Small peaceful gobies, blennies, dartfish, firefish, cardinalfish, clownfish (peaceful), small wrasses (peaceful), other pipefish or seahorses
• Caution with: Any aggressive or fast-moving feeders
• Avoid: ALL aggressive species, large fish, fast competitive feeders, triggers, puffers, wrasses (aggressive), dottybacks

Social Behavior:

• Extremely peaceful and timid
• Can be kept in male/female pairs
• Often forms monogamous pair bonds
• Hovers near caves and coral branches
• Very slow, deliberate swimming
• Males brood eggs in specialized pouch (like seahorses)
• Will not compete for food with aggressive eaters
• Easily stressed by boisterous tankmates

Reef Compatibility: Completely reef-safe with all corals, anemones, and sessile invertebrates. Safe with all ornamental shrimp and invertebrates. Will not harm any fish or invertebrates; only consumes microfauna.

Color & Development

Coloration: Brilliant orange to red-orange body with 4–5 electric blue to neon blue horizontal stripes running from snout to tail; blue stripes outlined in black; tail fin with distinctive blue and orange pattern; tubular snout; absolutely stunning coloration when healthy.

Color Intensity:

• High-quality live food diet maintains vibrant colors
• Rapid color fading indicates stress or starvation (critical warning sign)
• Blue stripes remain vivid in healthy specimens
• Stress causes immediate dulling
• Excellent water quality essential for optimal appearance

Size & Growth:

• Specimens typically available at 3–5 inches
• Slow growth rate
• Often near adult size when collected
• Remains slender throughout life

Why Choose a Quarantined Bluestripe Pipefish?

A properly quarantined Bluestripe Pipefish is a specimen that has been observed and assessed for critical feeding behavior. Our quarantine protocol includes 4–6 weeks minimum observation (critical for feeding assessment), preventative parasite treatment, feeding establishment verification with live foods (most important factor), copepod-enriched environment during quarantine, and stress reduction protocols.