Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Hippocampus - Seahorses

Hippocampus zosterae

Jordan & Gilbert, 1882

Dwarf Seahorse

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Florida, Bermuda, Bahamas, and Gulf of Mexico.

Size: 2 inches (4 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow seagrass and mangrove areas, and feeds on minute crustaceans.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade and usually black, yellow, green or beige. Requires an environment that is well-suited to these slow moving fishes, i.e., having slow moving water currents, preferably low light, and structures or large microalgae growths that can be used to grab-on and support itself.

As to diet, meaty foods consisting of enriched live adult brine shrimp and/or enriched frozen mysis shrimp, and fed several times daily.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Syngnathiformes

    Suborder: Syngnathoidei

    Family: Syngnathidae

    Genus: Hippocampus

FYI: Tankmates should be limited to species such as pipefish/mandarins.

Captive bred specimens available.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Their own private environment/special tankmates

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

Temperature Range: 68 - 82°F (20 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Hippocampus zosterae (Dwarf Seahorse)
Photo © Leslie Leddo
Hippocampus zebra Phycodurus eques
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