Corythoichthys sp Parasite or broodpouch?

I picked up a few more Dragonface pipefish today. Different species than the first. One has a dark bulge just above his anus. I assume it is a pouch as I can see the entrace. It appears empty but I wanted to get your opinions as to what it can be. Not sure if any of you have ever had any of these before. I got one reply on RC from a girl who said hers had something similar. I did a freshwater dip on both of them with little reaction.



The dark bulged area is quite obvious and you can see kind of where theres a opening. The anus is visible just below the bulge. I would of figured the pouch entrance bieng on the other end but dear god if I was to ever find helpfull information on the internet. I dont see any signs of it bieng irritated so I can only assume maybe he recently had a pouch full and released them prior to my purchase? I dunno....

Hi D.

you are right, this is a bouch ...it is the brood pouch of a male, of a "pregnant" male. After the females have laid aside their unfertilized eggs in the brood pouch, the eggs are overgrown by a tissue that it supplies on the part of the "father" with oxygen and nutrients and regulates the breathing of the fry's. No disease, the guy is pregnant, that's all. These tissues of which I spoke, sometimes has the strangest colors that sometimes even can leed to confusion.

Thank you very much Heinz I appreciate the response. This is what I was hoping. I am alittle suprised concidering his size. I would put at most 2.5" long. A dwarf in comparison to my 7+" origional speciemen. If you dont mind I will quote you on the other two forums I posted this on to help others with this ID. Thank you again.

Originally Posted by D3monic

Thank you very much Heinz I appreciate the response. This is what I was hoping. I am alittle suprised concidering his size. I would put at most 2.5" long. A dwarf in comparison to my 7+" origional speciemen. If you dont mind I will quote you on the other two forums I posted this on to help others with this ID. Thank you again.

I am honored, of course you can use my statement in other forums. Perhaps still another clue on this issue. In pipefish, unlike seahorses, have developed two different types of brood pouch. First, the so-called "abdominal brood pouch" and second the "caudal brood pouch". Just in case that does not at some time someone comes up with the idea to look for it in the wrong place. LoL.

by the way , my pipefish young were born a few days ago. There currently are about 2.5 cm long. Unfortunately, there are very few (9). But I hope I succeed in rearing. Pictures and more soon in my seahorse-thread.

Very nice! I can not wait to see the pics! What species?

Originally Posted by D3monic

Very nice! I can not wait to see the pics! What species?

Corythoichthys haematopterus!

by the way , may be too interesting for some. This "Tissue" that feeds the embrion in the brood pouch has another function. It disposed of through the bloodstream of the father dead or non-viable embrions from the brood pouch. They are simply absorbed into the systemic circulation of the Father ". Sounds incredible, but it is as described.

Very interesting stuff D and Heinz.

So what your saying is that the male is pregnant right now? Thats really cool if he is. I hope shipping stress and everything did take too much of a toll on him and the young.

so how is he doing now? if he is pregnant then any idea when they'll hatch? this is so cool D! and thanks for the clarification heinz!

Originally Posted by Barbara

so how is he doing now? if he is pregnant then any idea when they'll hatch? this is so cool D! and thanks for the clarification heinz!

If the brood survive the "treatment", then they hatch approximately 7 to 10 days after the egg transfer from female to male. The fry's should be about 1 - 1.5 cm in size at this time.

Poop looked good and everything so I thought I would be nice and let them loose in the DT....havnt seen the male since. Hope hes just hiding.

so how's he doing today D??? any updates for us?

Havnt seen him...assuming the worse. The otherone is doing great. Picking at pods and such.

Oh No!!!! maybe he's just in hiding for a few days with the babies....think positive! but keep us posted!

Has he came out yet D?

Na...I asuume dead. The FW dip was probably too much for him. I got bristleworms that could swallow that lil guy whole.

That sucks, keep up your hopes though

that really sucks............I'm still keeping my fingers crossed though!

I am probably going to pick up more tomorrow.

well I can't wait to see more fabulous pipefish in that fabulous tank!

I am so mad...liveaquaria had some yellow multibanded and some dragonface in stock while I was at work. I wanted to wait until I got home from work yesterday before ordering. I got home and both where out of stock.