Our Next Seahorse Shipments

Common Names: Barbour's Seahorse, Zebra Snout Seahorse

Characteristics: H. barbouri have well developed spines. Colors typically range from white to pale yellow to pale brown, may have reddish-brown or pink spots and lines on the body. Snouts are often striped. Have fine lines radiating from the eye.

Distribution: Indonesia, Philippines and, Malaysia

Habitat: Commonly found shallow sea grass beds or clinging to hard coral.

Size: Commonly 5 to 6 inches. May get slightly larger.

Sexual Maturity: 7 to 8 months. Their fry are benthic.

Minimum Tank Size Recommendations: 20 gallons for a pair, 25 to 30 gallons for 2 pairs.

Water Temperature: 72 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. 22 to 25 degrees Celsius.

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Common Names: Pot-bellied or Big-bellied Seahorse

Characteristics: H. abdominalis have prominent, rounded eye spines, cirri around the head region, deep body, males have a prominent brood pouch that is usually white. Colors typically range from white to yellow to orange to brown, with dark splotches on head and trunk, tails are banded with alternating colors. Colors are not fixed and may change based surroundings, diet, stress, mood or possibly other factors. Males are heavier, have longer tails, shorter thicker snouts and have more markings than females. H. abdominalis are very social, active and strong swimmers.

Distribution: Australia and New Zealand.

Habitat: Commonly found in sea grasses and rocky reefs in shallow water, sponges and colonial hydroids in deeper water.

Size: May reach up to 12 inches or more. Males typically larger than females.

Sexual Maturity: Between 8 to 12 months. Gestation approximately 30 days. Fry are pelagic.

Minimum Tank Size Recommendations: 36 inches vertical height. This species has been successfully kept in 55 gallon tanks, but it doesn't do them justice. A very tall large tank with a chiller is recommended.

Water Temperature: 59 to 71 degrees Fahrenheit. 15 to 22 degrees Celsius.

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Common Names: Smooth Seahorse, Yellow Seahorse, Spotted Seahorse

Characteristics: This variety of H. kuda is actually H. taeniopterus as recognized in Australia. CITES does not recognize this species and thus they are listed as H. Kuda. This is a smooth seahorse, with low spines. Often have spots throughout the body. Colors typically range from black to pale yellows to orangish yellows. Colors are not fixed and may change based surroundings, diet, stress, mood or possibly other factors.

Distribution: Western Pacific, Indian Ocean.

Habitat: Commonly found in sea grasses along coastal areas as well as in rocky areas.

Size: Typically 6 to 9 inches. We have seen specimens exceed 10 inches

Sexual Maturity: 4 to 5 months. Fry are pelagic but larger than many pelagic fry including H. reidi.

Minimum Tank Size Recommendations: 18 inches vertical height. 25 to 30 gallons for a pair. 30 to 40 gallons for 2 pairs.

Water Temperature: 69 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. Ideal temperature in home aquaria is in the low to mid 70's Fahrenheit

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White's Seahorse - Hippocampus whitei

The White's Seahorse (Hippocampus whitei) is a shy species that belongs to the syngnathidae family that includes pipefish, seahorses and seadragons. The scientific genus for seahorses is 'Hippocampus' which also means 'horse sea-monster' in Greek. This species is endemic to the waters of New South Wales - Australia; endemic meaning that it is only known from this area. It can be found from Sydney to Port Stephens and is common on the protective shark mesh nets and pylons within Sydney Harbour.

The White's Seahorse has an elongate bony body and long snout that it uses to suck up small prey such as mysids. They swim slowly upright in the water, or wrap their tails around objects such as seagrass fronds or sponges to hold them in place for feeding or for stabilisation during turbulent water conditions such as storms. Did you know that the seahorse is considered the slowest moving fish species in the ocean!

The White's Seahorse uses camouflage to blend in with their surroundings before using an ambush predatory feeding behaviour on small crustaceans. Their colouration varies considerably and generally matches the colour of the plant or sponge that it is living on. The White's Seahorse is also known to be very territorial, there is a pair in the Port Stephens Aquatic Reserve that have been living on the same sponge for over two years.

The reproductive strategy shared by seahorses is unique in that the female deposits eggs in the male's body for incubation and the male then gives birth. The male Whites Seahorse carries eggs in pouch-like openings or beneath their tails and only the males care for the young. In seahorses, pregnancy lasts about two weeks to one month, the length decreasing with increasing temperature. At the end of gestation the male goes into labour (usually at night), pumping and thrusting for hours to release his brood. Young are miniature adult seahorses, independent from birth, and receive no further parental care. Newborns of most species measure between 7 and 12 mm. Most males give birth to around 100 - 200 babies.

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love them so colourful xx

These are lovely Helen, I had to re-read it again about the Pot-Bellies as I thought it said that they grow to 36 inches... can you imagine?! Mind you can you imagine how thick the glass would have to be for a 36inch deep tank?

These really are lovely, I'd love to have some. No way though as I don't think I could take care of their needs with keeping the water right for them.

xoxox

You can come and see them when they arrive - Nigel's seahorse shed is filling up nicely now - we have the following

We now have the following

H. Abdominalis - Breeding Pair for Brook Stock
H. Barbouri - 3 Pairs for Brood Stock
H. Kuda - Brood Stock and available for sale
H. Erectus - Brood Stock and available for sale (numerous fry that Nigel is raising)
H. Whitei - 2 Pairs for Brood Stock
H. Zosterae - keeping a group for breeding and then extra for sale

Filling up nicely xx

These are beautiful are these new for you to have Helen ?

wow lots of varietys there .x

Just the Whitei - we have had all the others before

Wow, Helen, You and Nigel are doing a great job. You have some beautiful creatures there. I think I would have to just camp out in Seahorse shed and drift off. Again, I live to far away. Damm when will someone invent tellaporting like on Star Trek.

It is looking lovely now xx

awwww they are really cute..i love your seahorses they just float around without a care in the
world i want to come and see them when they arrive too...must warn nigel first this time,make sure he has his clothes on x

Can't do that Nikki - would spoil the fun xx

hee hee..poor nearly naked nigel x

Don't feel sorry him!

how many different species do you hold now, helen....
some beautiful textures and colours.

The most we have had is 11 - just building back up to this number - what we hold are what we can get captive bred x

amazing.