Biology
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New Giant Seahorses Discovered; Under-explored Islands Home to Mythological Colossal Seahorses
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 04/01/2013
Marine biologist Dr. Laura Saury, a member of the University of British Columbia-based Seahorse Project marine conservation team, has identified the world’s largest known species of seahorse. Topping out at around 7 feet in length, the Colossal Seahorses are straight out of greek mythology. Continue reading
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Not-So-True Facts About The Seahorse
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 01/22/2013
Ze Frank just did a wonderfully funny video “True Facts About The Seahorse”. I love the True Facts videos he’s been doing; especially since they’re mostly true. Mostly. (Seriously, watch this; it’s some funny stuff.) As good as the video … Continue reading
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Year in Review: Seahorses 2012
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 12/31/2012
As the new year looms, I wanted to take a moment to reflect back on the news and research about seahorses and their relatives over the past year. Much has happened, and as interest in these strange fish continues to … Continue reading
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The Biggest Seahorse Vs The Smallest
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 07/05/2012
It’s only been in the past decade that we’ve discovered the ocean is teaming with pygmy seahorses. This is largely because they’re so small, they went undetected for years. The smallest one Hippocampus satomiae, described in 2009 is just a … Continue reading
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The Pygmy Pipehorses of Cozumel
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 03/20/2012
One tiny seahorse relative flourishes in the waters of Cozumel, but often goes unnoticed. The West Atlantic Pygmy Pipehorse is a diminutive, slightly bent cousin of the seahorse that rarely grows larger than 2 inches. They hitch like seahorses, but look more like pipefish with mostly straightened bodies. Continue reading
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What’s Love Got to Do With It? The Truth About Seahorse Monogamy
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 10/04/2010
“Unlike most other fish, they [seahorses] are monogamous and mate for life.” – National Geographic It’s a theme repeated over and over again in the media and in popular culture. The idea that seahorses are monogamous and mate for life … Continue reading
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Seadragon Fact Sheet
By Angela Feng | Date posted: 03/07/2010
Seadragon Facts Habitat: Rocky reefs, seaweed beds, seagrass meadows and structures covered by seaweed and algae. Only found in the waters around Australia. Diet: Mysis shrimp, plankton, small crustatceans and fish Size: 12 inches to 18 inches Species: Two species, … Continue reading
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Seahorse Fact Sheet
By Angela Feng | Date posted:
Seahorse Facts Habitat: Seagrass beds, coral reefs, sheltered lagoons Diet: Mysis shrimp, plankton, small crustatceans and fish Size: 1/2 inch to 14 inches Species: 80+ species, all of the genus Hippocampus Threats: Habitat Loss, Overfishing from Traditional Chinese Medicine, Overfishing from accidental … Continue reading
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Pipefish Fact Sheet
By Angela Feng | Date posted:
Pipefish Facts Habitat: Reef, Lagoon, Seagrass, Estuary, River Diet: Mysis shrimp, plankton, small crustatceans, insects, worms and small fish Size: 1 inch to 26inches Species: 200+ species, part of the Syngnathidae family that seahorses belong Threats: Habitat Loss, Overfishing for Traditional Chinese … Continue reading
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Meet the Strange Syngnathiformes
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 11/21/2009
Syngnathiformes is the order of highly-specialized predatory fish known for their unusual appearance and adaptations. The most well known is the seahorse, but all of the syngnathids have similar features: long, narrow bodies that lack rings but are instead have a bony exterior that makes up armor, and small, tubular mouths used for sucking in prey. Continue reading
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Pygmy Seahorses
By Angela Feng | Date posted: 08/04/2009
What is a pygmy seahorse? Pygmy seahorses are part of the genus Hippocampus which all seahorses belong. They are minute seahorse species found through the world, most less than one inch in size. Most species have been discovered within the past 10 years. Since then, they have become one of the most popular creatures for recreational divers to seek out. Continue reading
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Happy Father’s Day! 10 Seahorse Facts About the Best Dad In the Animal Kingdom.
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 06/19/2009
Seahorses are often referred to as the best dads in the animal kingdom – and for good reason – they’re the only animal where the male gets pregnant! That’s right, it’s the men that take on the joys of childbirth in these equine fishes. Continue reading
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Seadragon Resources and Papers
By Administrator | Date posted: 06/01/2009
More information on leafy seadragons and weedy seadragons. Papers and websites. Continue reading
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Seahorse Biology & Anatomy
By Administrator | Date posted: 07/12/2007
Seahorses, and their relatives the seadragons and pipefish, all belong to the family Sygnathidae (pronounced sing-nath-I-dee) from the Greek words syn meaning together and gnathus meaning jaw, which describes the tubular, fused snout that is common among relatives of this … Continue reading
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Fish Stores Say The Darnedest Things: 20 Misconceptions About Seahorses
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 06/22/2004
Seahorses are shrouded in as much fantasy as fact, and much misinformation exists about them. Much of this is perpetuated by ill-informed fish stores, some by the media sensationalizing the almost unreal seahorses. Twenty of the most common misconceptions are addressed here. Continue reading
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Recognized Hippocampus Species and Common Names
By Administrator | Date posted:
There are currently around 40 recognized seahorse species. Seahorses are part of the family Syngnathidae (pronounced sing-nath-i-dee), which means “fused jaw”. All seahorses belong to the genus Hippocampus. Continue reading
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Pipe Fish
By Gerald Jennings | Date posted: 03/01/2000
Members of the family Syngnathidae, more commonly known as Pipe Fish, can be found throughout the world both in brackish and marine waters. Coldwater species can be found around the British coast and there are seven species that have been … Continue reading
Conservation
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Syngnathid Symposium 2011
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 11/12/2011
The the second Syngnathid Symposium was held the first week in November in Chicago at the Shedd aquarium. 92 delegates from all over the world gathered to discuss current issues with seahorses, sea dragons, pipefish and other syngnathids. Topics discussed … Continue reading
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Keep a Watchful Eye on the Sea Dragons of Southern Australia
By Mick Burrows | Date posted: 05/05/2010
Living amongst the many and varied creatures in the temperate coastal waters of southern Australia; are in essence, the a relatively little known, but immensely fascinating sea dragons. These marine fish of the Syngnathidae family, are closely related to sea … Continue reading
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Seahorse Sleuths
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 05/21/2009
Seahorses are some of the most enchanting and mysterious creatures in the ocean. They are also in trouble, struggling to survive in threatened habitats around the world, while large-scale trading of seahorses for the traditional Chinese medicine market goes unchecked. … Continue reading
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Plea To Conserve Sungai Pulai
By Choo Chee Kuang | Date posted: 04/25/2008
Sungai Pulai is a very special estuarine ecosystem that should merit the status of a
national heritage. The intertidal seagrass bed at the Pulai river mouth is the largest known contiguous meadow in the whole country – home to seahorse, dugong and other rare species, and also a fisheries powerhouse. It is something we, as Malaysian, cannot afford to lose.
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Research and Conservation Groups and Contacts
By Administrator | Date posted: 02/20/2005
Conservation and research groups around the world that study and try to protect fishes of the order Syngathiformes. Continue reading
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Seahorses: Unique Creatures Threatened by Habitat Loss and Overfishing
By Carlos Restrepo | Date posted: 01/01/2004
Seahorses are threatened throughout their range as a result of habitat loss and over-fishing. They are exploited for traditional Asian medicine markets, the pet trade, and for food. Continue reading
Aquarium Care
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A Modern Guide to Buying Seahorses
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 04/15/2013
Are you considering purchasing seahorses but are unsure of where to start or afraid they are too difficult? Seahorses do need a specialized setup, but are not nearly as hard to keep as they once were. Advances in breeding have … Continue reading
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Don’t Sump That Seahorse! Refugiums Are Not A Happy Seahorse Home.
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 03/21/2011
Seahorses don’t belong in refugiums. Yet this is one of those frequently reoccuring questions that comes up repeatedly by many people considering seahorses. I’m not sure what the appeal is – perhaps the knowledge that they need a specialized setup, … Continue reading
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Net Pen Raised Seahorses Part II
By Felicia McCaulley | Date posted: 03/17/2010
f you ever see a seahorse for sale at your local fish store like the one pictured here, pass it by. You’ll be saving yourself money and heartache. When you see a seahorse at your local fish store, you’re most likely to see a Kelloggi a.k.a. “Great Seahorse,” which is the most commonly pen-raised seahorse. It’s not because they make great pets or because they are hardy. Continue reading
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Net Pen Raised Seahorses
By Felicia McCaulley | Date posted:
Some of you are new to seahorses, and you may be wondering, “What’s the difference between True Captive Bred and Tank Raised/Tank Bred/Net Pen Raised?” These terms are very confusing, even to your local fish shop. Learn what Net Pen Seahorses are and why you should care. Continue reading
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My Thoughts On Seahorse Keeping
By RayJay | Date posted: 11/08/2009
RayJay, an experienced seahorse aquarist and mainstay of seahorse forums, shares his insights in to how to keep seahorses successfully. Continue reading
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10 Things You Should Know Before Keeping Seahorses As Pets
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 04/13/2009
1. Yes! Seahorses can be kept as pets. As long as you have the proper aquarium set up, and take take proper care of them. They are protected by international law, but that means their trade is regulated, not prohibited. … Continue reading
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Dwarf Seahorses As Pets
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 02/23/2009
Dwarf seahorses, Hippocampus zosterae remains an ever popular, easy to care for aquarium pet. The basics of keeping them are quite simple as long as you follow a few guidelines. Continue reading
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Where To Buy Seahorses and Pipefish
By Administrator | Date posted: 07/01/2008
Here are some sources online for captive bred Seahorses. You can often have your Local Fish Store order captive bred Seahorses for you if they don’t have any available. It is strongly advised that you always purchase captive bred seahorses over wild caught, as they live longer, arrive healthier, and are easier to feed. If your store is unsure,pass. Captive bred pipefish are a much harder find, but at least one wholesaler in Australia breeds them. Continue reading
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Flagtail Pipefish In The Home Aquarium
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 11/09/2005
Flagtail Pipefish, named such because of their large, brilliantly colored tails that they use in courtship and territory displays, is one of the free swimming types of pipefish from the genus Doryrhamphus and Dunkerocampus. The wonderful thing about these pipefish is that most fair quite well in captivity, unlike many other pipefish species. However, there are still some obstacles that need to be overcome when keeping these interesting fish. Continue reading
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Keeping Seahorses: Three Keys to Success
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 09/12/2005
It wasn’t long ago that seahorses were considered “impossible” to keep in captivity. Many believed they were only suitable for those with massive resources such as public aquariums. If the home aquarist were to attempt to keep seahorses, they needed to live near the ocean so they could collect food on a daily basis, and even then, they only met limited success. Continue reading
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Example 20 gallon Seahorse Aquarium
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 09/11/2005
One issue that new seahorse keepers struggle with is what exactly they need for an aquarium setup to keep seahorses. Having never kept fish, it can be difficult to pick out what precisely is needed to get started. Here is a list of basic equipment and a price brake down, to give an idea of the specifics of cost and equipment to get started. Continue reading
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Seahorse Tankmates: What’s Safe, What’s Not?
By Will Wooten | Date posted: 06/25/2004
There are quite a lot of animals that will do exceptionally well with seahorses while still allowing the seahorses themselves to thrive. To guide seahorse keepers in stocking their seahorse tanks with non-seahorse inhabitants, this article contains a list of species that are appropriate for keeping with seahorses. Continue reading
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Fish Stores Say The Darnedest Things: 20 Misconceptions About Seahorses
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 06/22/2004
Seahorses are shrouded in as much fantasy as fact, and much misinformation exists about them. Much of this is perpetuated by ill-informed fish stores, some by the media sensationalizing the almost unreal seahorses. Twenty of the most common misconceptions are addressed here. Continue reading
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Seahorse Care Guide
By Lisa Darmo | Date posted: 10/17/2003
As many aquarium hobbyists know, seahorses and related species have different needs than other marine fish. This article was created to assist anyone that is interested in keeping these fascinating fish. Continue reading
Breeding
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Help! My Seahorse Just Had Babies!
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 12/10/2012
You just walked by your tank to discover dozens, if not hundreds of tiny seahorses drifting around your aquarium. These miniature copies of the adults caught you off guard, and now you’re not sure what to do.
In the immortal words of Douglas Adams; Don’t Panic! This guide will get you through the critical first few days of attempting to rear your newborn seahorses. Continue reading
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Foods for Breeding Syngnathids
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 09/18/2012
Seahorses and their syngnathid relatives provide some interesting challenges raising from birth. Although they produce larger young than many marine species, they often ignore foods that have been the standard for raising marine fish. They must be supplied live food … Continue reading
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First Rearing of the Hawaiian Seahorse, Hippocampus fisheri at the Waikiki Aquarium
By Karen Brittain | Date posted: 07/15/2012
Encouraged by success raising H. erectus, the Waikiki Aquarium decided to attempt the captive culture of the “Hawaiian” seahorse H. fisheri collected off the leeward coast of Oahu. Surprisingly, we found this to be much more of a challenge than they had expected. Continue reading
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Seahorse Fry System Build
By Dan Underwood | Date posted: 10/23/2011
Dan Underwood of Seahorse Source shows us how to make a scaled down version of a professional rearing system for seahorse fry. Continue reading
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Breeding Dwarf Seahorses
By Rodrigo Flores | Date posted: 09/26/2007
The one species I had not had and that I wanted was the Dwarf Seahorse, Hippocampus zosterae. So at the beginning of spring I ordered 20 Seahorses all for my own. I set them up in one 40-gallon Eclipse tank with 2 biowheels and I put the intake in a Hydrosponge so the horses would not get sucked up. Continue reading
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A Scalable Method of Raising Hippocampus erectus
By Dan Underwood | Date posted: 11/16/2004
Forward I have been asked by several people to write an article about our fry raising methods with H. erectus fry. Initially I was hesitant. I would have preferred to have proven success and attained some personal goals with the … Continue reading
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Raising Seahorse Fry: The Fish Bowl Method
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 04/03/2003
The system I use for raising Hippocampus reidi fry is a modified pseudokreisel. Kreisels and pseudokreisels are tanks with a circular water flow most often used for keeping jellyfish. For H. reidi, and other pelagic seahorse fry prone to air snicking, … Continue reading
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It’s Rodeo time, Hippocampus erectus style!
By Ed Curran | Date posted: 02/19/2003
My fascination with seahorses began a long time ago, it all started when I was a boy reading the classifieds in Field and Stream, an ad selling dwarf seahorses caught my eye and that was that. I ordered the ponies … Continue reading
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Solving Problems in Seahorse Culture
By Todd Gardner | Date posted: 09/01/2001
Although seahorses have been spawned and reared in captivity for many years, a simple, effective, and reliable culture protocol is still sorely needed. The purpose of this article is to report on my preliminary rearing trials and the solutions to some of the problems I have encountered. Continue reading
Foods & Nutrition
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Foods for Breeding Syngnathids
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 09/18/2012
Seahorses and their syngnathid relatives provide some interesting challenges raising from birth. Although they produce larger young than many marine species, they often ignore foods that have been the standard for raising marine fish. They must be supplied live food … Continue reading
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Live Food Suppliers
By Administrator | Date posted: 08/29/2008
Finding live food for syngnathids can be difficult. Here is a list of mail order and online suppliers wordwide. If you know of any additional suppliers that should be added, please add to the comments below and I’ll add them to this list. Continue reading
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Seahorse and Pipefish Foods
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 06/25/2005
Seahorses are ambush predators, feeding primarily on crustaceans, mostly shrimp. In their wild state, most seahorses only eat live food. (Although H. capensis is an exception and known to feed on dead food in the wild). In our aquariums, Wild … Continue reading
Disease and Health
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Don’t Sump That Seahorse! Refugiums Are Not A Happy Seahorse Home.
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 03/21/2011
Seahorses don’t belong in refugiums. Yet this is one of those frequently reoccuring questions that comes up repeatedly by many people considering seahorses. I’m not sure what the appeal is – perhaps the knowledge that they need a specialized setup, … Continue reading
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Temperature and Seahorses: A Commentary By Dan Underwood of Seahorse Source
By Dan Underwood | Date posted: 04/30/2010
Dan Underwood of Seahorse Source talks about the problems with seahorses and elevated temperatures and why in the home aquarium seahorses do better at lower temperatures than they are found in the wild. Continue reading
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Snout Rot
By Will Wooten | Date posted: 06/25/2004
Snout rot is the erosion of the skin around the snout of a seahorse. Similar to and likey caused by the same pathogen as flesh-eating bacteria, Vibrio spp., snout rot can often be controlled with pre-treatment before the seahorse is released into the display aquarium. The disease may be cause either by fungal infection (in which case the snout will be pinkish) or bacterial infection (in which case the snout will be white). Continue reading
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Pouch Evacuations in Male Seahorses
By Tami Weiss | Date posted:
Evacuating the brood pouch of a male seahorse may be necessary from time to time if a male’s pouch accumulates excessive gas in the pouch. At first, this may seem like a frightening task, but its really very simple to … Continue reading
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Flesh Erosion Disease
By Will Wooten | Date posted: 06/24/2004
The purpose of this guide is to provide a reference, or starting point, in identifying and treating some of the most common diseases and medical conditions of seahorses in home aquariums. It is not, however, set in stone; constant scientific … Continue reading
Advanced Care
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Syngnathid Symposium 2011
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 11/12/2011
The the second Syngnathid Symposium was held the first week in November in Chicago at the Shedd aquarium. 92 delegates from all over the world gathered to discuss current issues with seahorses, sea dragons, pipefish and other syngnathids. Topics discussed … Continue reading
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Reproductive Husbandry of the Weedy Sea Dragon
By Kristy L. Forsgren | Date posted: 07/04/2009
Due to the difficulty and cost associated with maintaining sea dragons in captive environments, reproductive success and rearing of hatchlings has never been documented. During the summer of 2001, two weedy sea dragons became pregnant at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Continue reading
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Leafy Seadragon, Phycodurus eques
By Paula Branshaw Carlson | Date posted: 05/29/2009
The Leafy seadragon, Phycodurus eques, the most ornate member of the family Syngnathidae, has long been known to aquarists as one of the most beautiful and unique of all the fishes. Found only in Southern and Western Australian waters, the Leafy seadragon is a master of camouflage. Named for the dragons of Chinese myth, this relative of the pipefishes and seahorses is named for the leaf-like appendages that adorn its body. Continue reading
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Sedating, Tube Feeding, Injections and CPR for Seahorses
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 02/20/2004
One particular problem serious seahorse keepers and breeders face is lack of veterinary support. Some vets are willing to try to help, but most turn seahorse keepers away due to lack of aquatic animal experience. The hobbyist is then left with the choice of letting their beloved pets waste away, or attempting to try advanced care techniques themselves. This article is for those hobbyists who feel its necessary to go the extra mile in supportive care for their seahorses. Continue reading
Diving
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The Pygmy Pipehorses of Cozumel
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 03/20/2012
One tiny seahorse relative flourishes in the waters of Cozumel, but often goes unnoticed. The West Atlantic Pygmy Pipehorse is a diminutive, slightly bent cousin of the seahorse that rarely grows larger than 2 inches. They hitch like seahorses, but look more like pipefish with mostly straightened bodies. Continue reading
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Pygmy Seahorses Code of Conduct for Diving & Photographing
By Tami Weiss | Date posted: 07/05/2011
Pygmy Seahorse expert Dr. Richard Smith just released a great guideline for divers and photographing pygmy seahorses. Pygmy seahorses, the inch and under relative of the seahorses most people are used to, are beloved by divers around the world, and frequently over-loved and even harassed by divers looking for these diminutive treasures. Continue reading
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Diving With Seahorses
By The Seahorse Trust | Date posted: 08/01/2010
Divers looking for seahorses need to be extra cautious not to disturb these sensitive animals. Here are some guidelines and best practices for any diver looking for and observing seahorse in the wild. Originally written for the British Seahorse Survey, it contains information useful for anyone that may encounter seahorses. Continue reading
