Ornate Ghost Pipefish
Solenostomus paradoxus
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
|---|
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Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Expert |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 30 gallons |
| Max Size | 5 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
Ornate Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) is a highly camouflaged “ghost pipefish” that typically holds an upright, drifting posture and uses expanded fins and frilly edges to blend in with gorgonians, algae, and other reef structure. In nature it’s found across the Indo-West Pacific, where it stays close to the habitat it resembles and ambush-feeds with a long, tubular snout.
What You’ll Observe:
- Hovering close to gorgonians, macroalgae, or branching rockwork, often swaying with the same motion as nearby structure
- Short, precise “suction strikes” at small moving foods that pass within reach
- Head-down or angled hovering positions while it waits near cover
- Most activity centered around a favorite patch of structure rather than open-water cruising
Provide a mature reef with lots of fine, branching structure (gorgonians or macroalgae-style décor) and sheltered zones where it can hover comfortably. Offer multiple small feedings of finely sized meaty foods like enriched mysis and brine (and, for some specimens, some live options early on), and use a baster or feeding tube to place food right in its hover zone. Peaceful, non-competitive tankmates help it settle into a steady routine.
Will an Ornate Ghost Pipefish “match” the color of my tank?
They come in many color forms, and they often choose a spot in the tank where their existing color blends in best with the background and décor.
Do they perch or hitch like seahorses?
They’re usually hoverers rather than perchers, but they can use their prehensile tail to steady themselves against structure when staying in one place.
Do I need to target feed, or can I broadcast feed?
Many keepers find it easiest to target feed so the food passes right in front of the fish, and to briefly reduce flow during feeding so the meal stays in its hover zone.
Can I keep a pair together?
In the wild they’re often seen singly or in pairs, and pairs are sometimes maintained when introduced together and given multiple “hover stations” in the aquascape.
Why do some individuals look much “wider” through the belly area?
Females can appear broader because they have enlarged pelvic fins that form a brood pouch used for carrying eggs.
We work with trusted suppliers who keep our specimens healthy and well-fed before shipping.
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