Yellow multibanded pipefish (Doryrhamphus pessuliferus) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Yellowbanded pipefish, Dunckerocampus pessuliferus
Family
Syngnathidae (pipefishes and seahorses)
Origin
Coral Triangle: the Philippines, Indonesia and north-western Australia; coral patches on sand and mud slopes at 15–44 m.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
18 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
100 litres
Care level
expert
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
yes

Care

Pipefish are slow, deliberate feeders. Keep them in a calm, mature tank with plenty of live rock and a population of copepods, with no fast or boisterous tankmates. Provide caves and overhangs. The 100-litre minimum is our estimate. The list gives 18 cm; the article gives 16 cm. Name note: now usually placed in the genus Dunckerocampus. Water figures given here are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity SG 1.023–1.026, with stable, well-oxygenated water. Adults form pairs and swim near the bottom around large coral heads. It is protected in Australia under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, so Australian-collected fish need export permits; sellers should know the origin. Only seahorses (Hippocampus) in this family are CITES-listed. Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doryrhamphuspessuliferus). Checked October 2026.

Diet

An active cleaner that eats parasitic crustaceans from other fish. Offer live and frozen copepods, enriched brine shrimp and mysis several small times a day.

Breeding

The male carries the eggs and gives birth to live young. Rearing in captivity is difficult.

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe. Keep with small, peaceful fish; it will clean larger fish.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

About Aquatic-Auctions

  • Aquatic-Auctions (aquatic-auctions.com) is a UK online marketplace for aquarium and pond livestock and equipment: tropical and marine fish, corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, aquatic plants, tanks, filtration, lighting and food.
  • Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
  • Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers must offer PayPal and may also take cash on collection. Business sellers take PayPal (required) or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have a seller rating of 50 out of 100, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
  • Buyers are told to pay by PayPal Goods & Services, never PayPal Friends and Family, gift cards or crypto.
  • Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
  • Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
  • Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
  • Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
  • The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
  • Aquatic-Auctions is run by Etavonni Tech Limited trading as Aquatic-Auctions (company number 10204188), Aldershot, Hampshire, UK. Contact: info@aquatic-auctions.com.