Belly Pipefish
Hippichthys heptagonus
Brackish Indo-Pacific
An intriguing, slow-moving syngnathid found navigating coastal mangroves and estuarine shallows. Slender and armoured, it hovers gently among vegetation stalks. This demanding specialist requires dedicated species-only housing with gentle circulation and steady supplies of live copepods, mysids, and enriched brine shrimp to avoid starvation.
Also called: Belly pipefish, Freshwater pipefish, Madura pipefish.
Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.
What it needs
| Item | Value | Because |
|---|---|---|
| Adult length | 15 cm | Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round. |
| Smallest tank | 120 L, at least 80 cm long estimated | The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group. |
| Extra water per added fish | 15 L estimated | What each further fish adds once the minimum is met. |
| Waste load | Class 2 of 5 estimated | How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check. |
| Temperature | 22 to 28 C | Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges. |
| pH | 7.5 to 8.5 | Compared with tankmates in the Water check. |
| Hardness | GH 10 to 20, KH 6 to 12 | Degrees of general and carbonate hardness. |
| Flow | Low | Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current. |
| Light | Moderate | Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet. |
| Group size | Single fish is fine | Not a schooling species. |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Not territorial. |
| Swims in | All levels | Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily. |
| Lifespan | About 4 years | A fish is a long commitment. |
| Experience | Experienced keepers only | A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes. |
Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.
Diet and tank layout
Belly Pipefish is an carnivore that swims in all levels of the tank. It is safe with plants. Give it plenty of cover.
Tankmates
Works with
Depends
Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.