Microphis aculeatus
Scientific name: Microphis aculeatus
Common name: N/A
Family: Syngnathidae
Usual size in fish tanks: 18 - 20 cm (7.09 - 7.87 inch)
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Recommended pH range: 7 - 8.2
Recommended water hardness: 12 - 30°N (214.29 - 535.71ppm)
0°C 32°F30°C 86°F
Recommended temperature range: 24 - 28 °C (75.2 - 82.4°F)
The way how these fish reproduce: Spawning
Where the species comes from: Africa
Temperament to its own species: peaceful
Temperament toward other fish species: peaceful
Usual place in the tank: Bottom levels
General Information
The short-tailed pipefish historically listed as Microphis brachyurus aculeatus is currently treated as Microphis aculeatus. It occurs along West Africa from Senegal south to Angola, inhabiting calm rivers, streams, and estuaries with vegetation and sandy or muddy bottoms. Adults are typically found in fresh water, while juveniles often occur in estuaries. Expect a slender, straight-bodied syngnathid reaching ~18–20 cm TL in aquaria. This is a delicate, slow-feeding species best kept in very stable, low-stress conditions.
Food and Feeding
A confirmed fussy eater that thrives on live micro-prey. Offer small live foods such as enriched brine shrimp (Artemia) nauplii, daphnia, cyclops, mosquito larvae, and black/white worms of appropriate size. Many individuals resist dry foods; some accept thawed frozen foods only after careful weaning. Feed small portions multiple times daily and remove uneaten food quickly. Because they hunt slowly and deliberately, competition with quick feeders must be avoided.
Sexing
Like other pipefishes, males brood the eggs. Mature males develop a ventral brood pouch under the tail; females lack the pouch and may appear more rounded when gravid.
Breeding
In nature, adults breed in fresh water; the male carries eggs in the pouch for roughly 1–3 weeks until juveniles (≈1.5 cm) are released. Consistent captive breeding remains challenging. Provide very calm water, dense cover (fine-leaf plants or artificial equivalents), and abundant live micro-foods for both parents and fry. Some keepers report better condition in very low-end brackish systems, but this African form is documented to breed in fresh water; salinity should therefore be considered optional and applied cautiously.
Lifespan
Documented captive longevity is sparse. With excellent water quality, low stress, and continuous access to suitable foods, multi-year survival is possible; double-digit (10–15 yr) claims are anecdotal and unverified.
Tank Requirements & Water Parameters
- Footprint & flow: spacious tank with long, calm stretches; gentle filtration and low current.
- Furnishing: dense planting (including fine leaves), root/branch tangles, and vertical/horizontal “perches” for ambush hunting; subdued light.
- Water: neutral to alkaline, hard water is preferred. Keep parameters very stable.
- Maintenance: excellent mechanical/biological filtration; frequent small water changes; avoid sudden parameter shifts.
Compatibility & Tank Mates
Extremely peaceful but easily outcompeted. Best in species-only setups or with very calm, non-aggressive companions that ignore food in the water column. Avoid fast feeders, nippy fish, and any species that harass elongated tankmates.
Behaviour & Usual Place in the Tank
Demersal by nature: typically holds station near the bottom and among vegetation/structure, cruising slowly in the lower to mid-water close to cover. It is not an open mid-water swimmer and rarely visits the surface except when disturbed.
Short Description
Short-tailed pipefish (Microphis aculeatus) is a West African syngnathid for advanced keepers. Provide calm, clean, hard/alkaline water, dense cover, and a steady supply of live micro-foods. Males brood the eggs; adults are largely freshwater, with juveniles often estuarine.
Picture
Bought by aqua-fish.net from jjphoto.dk.
