Where to buy Samoan Pipefish
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About Samoan Pipefish
Halicampus mataafae is a small, slender pipefish with an elongated tubular snout and segmented body typical of the Syngnathidae family. Coloration is generally mottled brown to tan with lighter markings, allowing camouflage in seagrass and reef environments. The body exhibits the characteristic seahorse-like posture with a prehensile tail.
Key facts
- Feeding Schedule
- 2-3 times daily
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Water Parameters
- Temperature: 72-78°F pH: 8.1-8.3 Salinity: 1.023-1.025
- Difficulty Level
- The Samoan Pipefish is challenging due to its specialized dietary requirements (live zooplankton), slow feeding behavior, and sensitivity to aggressive tank mates. Success requires stable conditions and abundant live food cultures.
- Care Requirements
- • Minimum 20 gallon tank with gentle flow and plenty of seagrass or macroalgae for grazing and shelter • Temperature range 72–78°F; maintain pH 8.1–8.3 and salinity 1.023–1.025 • Requires abundant live copepods and amphipods; maintain refugium or culture live food supplies continuously • Keep only with peaceful tank mates; incompatible with aggressive fish or large predators • Feed small live foods 2–3 times daily; monitor weight and feeding behavior closely
- Care Level
- Hard
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Appearance
- Halicampus mataafae is a small, slender pipefish with an elongated tubular snout and segmented body typical of the Syngnathidae family. Coloration is generally mottled brown to tan with lighter markings, allowing camouflage in seagrass and reef environments. The body exhibits the characteristic seahorse-like posture with a prehensile tail.
- Reef safety
- Reef Safe
- Min tank size
- 20 gallons
- Diet
- carnivore
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific, specifically documented from Samoa and surrounding tropical Pacific waters. Found in shallow reef and seagrass habitats in warm Indo-Pacific regions.
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