Alan Sutton, Tansania
Info
Dunckerocampus boylei Kuiter, 1998
Dunckerocampus boylei occurs in the Red Sea, around Mauritius and Indonesia, but it is believed that this pipefish is widespread throughout the Indian Ocean.
It lives in coastal caves and crevices at depths of 20 to 95 meters.
The species name “boylei” honors Bill Boyle, an underwater fish photographer who brought the species to the attention of Australian ichthyologist Rudie H. Kuiter.
The needlefish feeds on small crustaceans that colonize other fish.
This species is ovoviviparous, with the males carrying the eggs and giving birth to live young.
Dunckerocampus boylei lives quite hidden and is difficult to feed, best fed with live food such as large Artemia and Mysis.
Dunckerocampus boylei was long confused with Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus.
Feeding intake.
The fish take a long time to eat at the beginning, before the food is taken up, a close inspection is carried out. After acclimatisation, the offered frozen food is eaten without problems. It should be noted that wild-caught fish behave differently than offspring when it comes to food intake. In the case of offspring, the size of the fish purchased also plays a role in the choice of food.
Dunckerocampus boylei occurs in the Red Sea, around Mauritius and Indonesia, but it is believed that this pipefish is widespread throughout the Indian Ocean.
It lives in coastal caves and crevices at depths of 20 to 95 meters.
The species name “boylei” honors Bill Boyle, an underwater fish photographer who brought the species to the attention of Australian ichthyologist Rudie H. Kuiter.
The needlefish feeds on small crustaceans that colonize other fish.
This species is ovoviviparous, with the males carrying the eggs and giving birth to live young.
Dunckerocampus boylei lives quite hidden and is difficult to feed, best fed with live food such as large Artemia and Mysis.
Dunckerocampus boylei was long confused with Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus.
Feeding intake.
The fish take a long time to eat at the beginning, before the food is taken up, a close inspection is carried out. After acclimatisation, the offered frozen food is eaten without problems. It should be noted that wild-caught fish behave differently than offspring when it comes to food intake. In the case of offspring, the size of the fish purchased also plays a role in the choice of food.
