What a cool fish! I support your decision to try one of these!
Im going to speak here with experience in keeping SW pipes - and hope that all the info translates.
In my mind, you want as few fish in this tank as possible. What these guys are really eating in the wild isnt small fish or shrimp - but even smaller microfauna.
I would seed the tank with infusoria, blackworms etc - and do so frequently.
I would also keep cultures on hand of other live feeders. Especially greenwater and amphipods.
Throwing tiny cull shrimp in there as much as possible is a good idea, as is adding TINY guppy fry.
Adult guppies (and even the tiny ones) will relish the foods that your pipefish needs to thrive. Pipefish are not easy fish to care for - and should be given sources of living food that they can graze on 24/7.
I think it can be done, but I would start some cultures now, and keep as many other fish or feeding competitors out of the tank as possible - pipes are 99.99% of the time a species tank sort of fish.
That being said - the more live cultures you have going, the better the chance of you being able to keep other fish, and the other fish will love it as well. Small enough fish might even spawn under these conditions.
Good luck!
Im going to speak here with experience in keeping SW pipes - and hope that all the info translates.
In my mind, you want as few fish in this tank as possible. What these guys are really eating in the wild isnt small fish or shrimp - but even smaller microfauna.
I would seed the tank with infusoria, blackworms etc - and do so frequently.
I would also keep cultures on hand of other live feeders. Especially greenwater and amphipods.
Throwing tiny cull shrimp in there as much as possible is a good idea, as is adding TINY guppy fry.
Adult guppies (and even the tiny ones) will relish the foods that your pipefish needs to thrive. Pipefish are not easy fish to care for - and should be given sources of living food that they can graze on 24/7.
I think it can be done, but I would start some cultures now, and keep as many other fish or feeding competitors out of the tank as possible - pipes are 99.99% of the time a species tank sort of fish.
That being said - the more live cultures you have going, the better the chance of you being able to keep other fish, and the other fish will love it as well. Small enough fish might even spawn under these conditions.
Good luck!