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Others
/ Syngnathidae / African Freshwater Pipefish
African Freshwater Pipefish
Enneacampus ansorgii | Pictures
SYN: Syngnathus
ansorgii, S. pulchellus
PD: An elongated, snake-like species having a body encased in a series of bony rings.
There
are no pelvic fins present, and the anal fin is very small.
The mouth is small and tube-shaped.
The
dorsal fin is located far back on the body.
The caudal fin is small and fan-shaped.
The back is dark brown and the flanks
are light brown.
The belly region is blood red in color.
The body may be marked with small, irregular
yellow spots.
SIZE: To 6" (15 cm)
SS: Smith's Freshwater Pipefish (
Microphis smithi)
is also available. This species inhabits rivers with heavy vegetation in Zaire and Nigeria.
It
can reach 8" (20 cm).
Other freshwater/brackish water species that are not commonly available: the Short-tail
or Red-line Pipefish ( M. brachyurus
) of the east coast of Southern Africa from Kenya to South Africa and Madagascar; the Freshwater
Pipefish ( M. fluviatilis
), having the same distribution; and Ragged-tail Pipefish (
M. retzi) of Western Africa.
S: bottom, middle
HAB: In fresh and brackish water in Western Africa; the Ogoouè River of Gabon, Cameroon,
and Equatorial Guinea.
TANK: A 36" (91 cm) or 35-45 gallon (132-170 l) tank is sufficient.
The tank should have a sand, preferably
coral sand, substrate and be in a location that receives morning sun.
Plant the tank heavily with plants that
can tolerate the slightly brackish water conditions.
The filter should create a moderate current and the tank must be well
aerated.
WATER: pH 7-8 (7.5), 10-25 dH (20), 75-82°F (24-28°C).
A 0.5% addition of salt is recommended.
Add
4 TSP of salt to every 10 gallons (5 g/10 L).
SB: This delicate species must be combined only with other calm species that will not compete
for food.
Like all pipefish, this species forms a patriarchal family.
SC: Other Pipefish, smaller
Synodontis, Pelvicachromis, Poecilia, Freshwater
Sole
FOOD: Live; crustaceans;
Cyclops; fish fry; worms
SEX: The male has a stomach ridge that becomes a breeding pouch during spawning season.
B: The female spawns above the the males brooding pouch.
The eggs stick to his anal opening are
covered by two lateral folds which form the sac.
The eggs remain in the male's pouch for several months.
BP: 9.
Breeding has been accomplished accidentally thus far.
REMARKS:
The prey is sucked into the mouth by a vacuum created by the simultaneous closing of the
gill covers and the mouth. When the mouth is opened the vacuum is created.
This species requires favorable water
conditions and frequent partial water changes to prosper.
DC: 8.
This delicate species is sensitive to water conditions and disease.
It requires live foods and is best kept
in a species tank.
This species requires the addition of salt.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
How to save the world's oceans from overfishing
(7/8/2007) Global fishing stocks are in trouble. After expanding from 18 millions tons in 1950 to around 94 million tons in 2000, annual world fish catch has leveled off and may even be declining. Scientists estimate that the number of large predatory fish in the oceans has fallen by 90 percent since the 1950s, while about one-quarter of the world's fisheries are overexploited, depleted, or recovering from depletion. Despite these dire trends, the situation is changing. Today some of the world's largest environmental groups are focused on addressing the health of marine life and oceans, while sustainable fisheries management is at the top of the agenda for intergovenmental bodies. At the forefront of these efforts is Mike Sutton, director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's conservation program: the Center for the Future of the Oceans. The aquarium, which has long been recognized as one of the world's most important marine research facilities, is pioneering new strategies for protecting the planet's oceans. Sutton says the approach has four parts: establishing new marine protected areas, pushing for ocean policy reform, promoting sustainable seafood, and protecting wildlife and marine ecosystems.
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