Subject:
The Schultz Pipefish (Corythoichthys schultzi) is a relatively common pipefish (family Syngnathidae) that inhabits the tropical coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Found in locations ranging from the coral reefs of the Red Sea to the lagoons of Tonga and the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia, the Schultz Pipefish roams these diverse habitats, often seen in pairs or small aggregations. Their preferred habitat consists of coral rubble and rocky substrates, where they blend seamlessly with their surroundings.
The Schultz Pipefish is also known as the Gilded Pipefish or Long-snouted Pipefish and can reach a total length of approximately 16 cm/6.2 inch. Because of their wide distribution throughout the Indo-Pacific region, their coral reef habitat, and the shallow depths where they are commonly found (less than 30 m or 100 ft), they are frequently encountered by scuba divers. These intriguing fish are especially common sightings during night dives when their behaviour becomes more observable under artificial light.
As a close relative of seahorses, it is the male Schultz Pipefish that possesses a brooding pouch. This specialised pouch, located under the slender body near the tail, carries the eggs deposited by the female. After approximately 15 days, the eggs hatch, and the tiny newborns remain in the protective pouch for a short time before being ejected by the father. The young pipefish emerge as almost exact replicas of their parents, already equipped to navigate their coral reef habitat.
The colouration of these slender, benthic fish varies depending on their region. However, the Schultz Pipefish is generally recognised by the distinctive dark stripes and spots on the sides of its snout, as well as the characteristic orange dashes and speckles on its back. These orange markings can sometimes take on a yellowish hue, adding to the fish's regional variation.
Like all members of the order Syngnathiformes, Schultz Pipefish are specialised hunters of small zooplankton, primarily feeding on tiny crustaceans such as isopods, amphipods, copepods, and mysids. Their hunting technique is both efficient and fascinating: they approach their prey stealthily before suddenly using their elongated snouts to suck in the unsuspecting target. The feeding process is remarkably swift, leaving the tiny crustaceans no time to react.
Technique:
These beautiful pipefish possess a notable advantage over other fish species: they tend to remain relatively still or move away slowly when approached by divers. This behaviour allows underwater photographers and videographers plenty of time to adjust their camera settings to capture the fish on film.
Despite their accommodating nature, the Schultz Pipefish’s excellent camouflage poses a challenge for a camera’s automatic focus. Cameras often struggle to differentiate the cryptic fish from the coral rubble or rocky substrate it frequents. Additionally, the sudden and unpredictable movements of their heads can cause the subject to go in and out of focus, making the process of capturing clear footage tricky.
To overcome these challenges, it is best to spend time observing the pipefish and filming it extensively before moving on to another subject. During the editing process, you can select the clearest and most in-focus shots to create a captivating underwater video clip showcasing the beauty of this unique species.
Filming location:
This short underwater videoclip has been filmed in Mauritius 🇲🇺
Watch it on YouTube:
You can watch it directly on YouTube by clicking the following link:
For other in-depth descriptions of pipefish please go to vlog post 165 about the Samoan Pipefish or click the following link https://www.beyondscuba.com/post/samoan-pipefish-halicampus-mataafae
and vlog post 139 about the Shortnose Pipefish or click the following link https://www.beyondscuba.com/post/the-very-cryptic-shortnose-pipefish-micrognathus-andersonii
Join us on a journey of discovery and entertainment as we explore fascinating marine wildlife topics and explore the many exciting underwater adventures on our YouTube channel and our Facebook page!
Also you can capture the magic of the underwater world with our online Marine Wildlife Videography course!