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The tube-mouthed fishes we call seahorses, pipefishes and “pipehorses”
comprise the family Syngnathidae; This is an expansive group comprising
some quite small to too large fishes for our stocking purposes here.
Some are just “too roaming” and as wild-collected specimens do poorly
through collection, holding and shipping; and even if they do survive,
tend to not adapt well to captive conditions. Other species, especially
captive-produced and reared do exceptionally well; trained on readily
available foods and accepting the vagaries of home systems well. I
cannot state strongly enough that wild-collected animals of this family
are historically poor survivors; often loaded with parasite issues. Look
to the several species readily available from producers of tank-bred
specimens; these are far superior.
Seahorses Proper: Subfamily Hippocampinae
The singular genus of seahorses, Hippocampus (meaning "horse
caterpillar"), comprises some 35 species; Of these a handful are
collected for the aquarium trade principally out of the Indo-Pacific,
mainly Indonesia and the Philippines; and to a lesser extent, the
Caribbean.
Really Small Seahorses:
If you can remember back to the days, years, decades of yore when comic
books (nee anime, graphic novels) were a mere five and ten cents, you
likely are familiar with “Sea Monkeys” (Artemia, Brine Shrimp), and
Dwarf Seahorses in their mail-order advertisements. The seahorse species
in question was the venerable tropical West Atlantic Hippocampus
zoster.
In Europe
this assemblage is augmented by the common H. hippocampus, the
regal Mediterranean seahorse, H. ramulosus and the short-snouted
Hippocampus brevirostris.
Too Large Non-Choices:
The two southern Australian species require chilled systems of hundreds
of gallons; but there are other varieties for sale regularly that get
too large for the limit we’ve set here (forty gallons) to live to full
size comfortably. I know my stance differs from others, but I assure you
that these animals need space; in the wild they cover a good sized area
(thousands of gallons equivalent) roaming individually seeking food
organisms; meeting up with their mate daily. Cultured (vs. wild-caught)
are far more accommodated in smaller volumes; but even these do better
in plus forty gallon systems.
Coldwater Choices:
Surprising to many folks is the good number of temperate Hippocampine
species. Yes; they can’t be kept without a purposeful chiller, or
chilling mechanism. Room temperature won’t do; as it’s too variable; and
tropical settings are too warm. Below are some of the more commonly
offered cool to cold water species in the trade. These are also animals
too-large for forty gallons…
Sea Dragons:
Seadragons are infrequently offered from their restricted ranges
around Australia (where they are protected by law); they have a
notoriously poor record of survivability in shipping and short lives if
at all in aquariums. If you must try them, DO look for captive-produced
specimens.
Pipefishes, Pipehorses: Subfamily
Syngnathinae. Fifty one genera, about 190 species
More elongate, but still wacky in terms of feeding strategies (reverse
hypodermic tube-mouthed!), and male-carrying reproductive mode,
pipefishes and seemingly intermediate twixt them and seahorses, the
pipehorses can also make interesting displays; given selection of
better, smaller species and healthy specimens.
As for Pipefishes, they're survivability is, if anything, even
more dismal than wild-collected seahorses. They should only be attempted
by folks in the know and of dead earnest. Reef-type set-ups with few or
no competing fish tankmates are best for providing conditions conducive
to their care.
Pipefishes can be divided into two groups for our purposes; ones
that live up off the bottom and are unsuitable for small volumes; and
those that creep along the bottom and can be accommodated in small
tanks. To Be Avoided: Need More Room:
Various banded pipefishes, in the genera Dunckerocampus and
Doryrhamphus are available from time to time mostly out of the
Indo-Pacific. All but the
Bluestripe Pipefish (Doryrhamphus excisus)
need more than a forty gallon space to do well.
The creeping Pipefishes of the genus Corythoichthys are
probably the most popular, best-lived forms, some known to have lived
for years in well-established reef tanks. Some of the temperate species
of Syngnathus, likewise have been kept and bred in aquarium
confinement, as "species-tanks" by themselves. Due to space limitations,
we’ll just hit the spotlight by mentioning the most celebrated genus,
and a scant few of the numerous species therein.
Corythoichthys spp.: Excellent choices
There are many members of this genus, though only a few make their way
into the trade regularly. This is another group of fishes that will be
great for small systems when they’re life-history, feeding of young are
worked out and their available as captive-produced specimens. These are
great animals for controlling/eating “red bugs” for you Acropora
keepers. Some examples:
Selecting Healthy Syngnathid Specimens:
There are a few basic criteria for getting good seahorses and pipes: Not
buying newly arrived, examining them carefully for a lack of sores,
discolorations and parasites; and the acid-test of having the animals
fed in front of you… with foods you will be able to secure on a
continuous basis.
Give just-arrived individuals a few to several days to rest-up from the
rigors of handling and transport. Even tank-bred and reared specimens
take a beating in this process. Study carefully photos of healthy
specimens so you can discern what they look like and how they should
act, react in your presence. And feeding should be self-evident: A fish
that eats is a fish that lives. The negative corollary holds as well. Other Gasterosteiform Fishes:
Seahorses, Pipes and Pipehorses are but one of several families in the
Order Gasterosteiformes; the “tube mouthed fishes”; and though most of
them are too big to be considered for our purpose here, there are some
that might fit: Solenostomids, Sea Robins, Shrimpfish, darlings of the
public aquariums currently … Unfortunately all require larger than forty
gallon volumes to do well.
Cloze:
As you can tell from reading how many species of Syngnathids there are,
the hobby only has used a smattering of them as ornamentals thus far.
True; many are too large, free ranging for small aquarium use; but there
are still many to choose from that will go in a system of a few to
several gallons nicely. One last “plug” for buying “tank raised”.
Commercially produced animals are far better choices for avoiding
disease and overall stress; they have been trained from early stages to
accept novel foods that you can procure, and are already adapted to
confined spaces.
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