Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus 9-11 cm

Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus – Cleaner Banded Pipefish

Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus, also known as the cleaner banded pipefish, is a fish with a unique appearance and fascinating behavior. Its slender body is marked with black and white stripes, contrasted by a bright orange tail encircled with white. This exceptional fish is prized for its role as a cleaner in reef aquariums.

Native to the Indo-Pacific region, the cleaner banded pipefish thrives in shallow coral reefs, often near live rocks where it sets up its cleaning stations. It can live alone or in pairs and performs meticulous work to rid other fish of parasites.

Maintenance Conditions

• Minimum recommended volume: 150 liters (200 L recommended for a pair)
• Temperature: between 24°C and 27°C
• pH: 8.0 to 8.4
• Decor: live rocks with plenty of hiding places
• Water flow: moderate

Behavior and Compatibility

The Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus is peaceful and discreet, cohabiting easily with calm reef fish, corals, and invertebrates. In pairs, it shows interesting social behaviors and remains loyal to its living area.

This fish is sensitive to stress, so it's important to provide it with a stable and calm environment. It can live harmoniously with symbiotic shrimp, but territorial or aggressive species should be avoided.

Feeding

• Live copepods (ideal for acclimatization)
• Live or thawed brine shrimp and mysis
• Small marine planktonic prey

This fish requires a mature aquarium with a good population of microfauna. It may take several days to acclimate to manually distributed food, which is why a well-established tank is important.

Why Choose Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus?

• Exceptional aesthetics: black and white stripes, orange tail
• Cleaner role very beneficial for reef fish
• Calm and captivating behavior
• Compatible with corals and invertebrates
• Ideal for mature aquariums of 150 liters and above

The Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus is a wise choice for passionate aquarists seeking an elegant, discreet, and useful fish that will bring both beauty and balance to a well-established reef aquarium.