All fish / Syngnathidae

African Freshwater Pipefish

Enneacampus ansorgii

Also known as freshwater pipefish, african pipefish, red-line pipefish, ansorge's pipefish, red pipefish, doryichthys ansorgii, アフリカン・フレッシュウォーター・パイプフィッシュ, 非洲淡水海龙

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A slender, stick-like relative of the seahorses with a long snout, brownish body and reddish orange markings, especially in breeding males. It is kept for its unusual look and calm, deliberate behaviour in quiet planted tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

14 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Pair or small group of the same species

Diet

Carnivore: live foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, mosquito larvae and small bloodworm

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

West and Central Africa: coastal rivers from Cameroon and Nigeria to Gabon and Congo

Breeding

As in other pipefish, the female passes eggs to the male, who carries them in a brood area under his tail until the young hatch. Spawning happens in well kept aquariums, but raising the tiny fry needs a steady supply of very small live food and is challenging.

Good to know

It usually refuses dried food and is a slow feeder, so keep it only with small, peaceful tankmates or on its own. Often sold as fully freshwater, though wild fish may come from slightly brackish lower river stretches.