Hippocampus whitei - The White's or Sydney Seahorse is incredibly rare in the US aquarium trade. This species is also uncommon in the its native Australia and was listed in 2020 as endangered on the IUCN Redlist. White's seahorse can be distinguished from the more common erectus by their smaller size, narrow trunk, and large, wide eyes, which gives them an endearing appearance.
These pretty seahorses slowly glide through aquariums grabbing onto corals, rocks, or anything they can get their prehensile tails around (even each other). Seahorses are playful and socially engaging animals that make unique and wonderful pets.
Wild caught seahorses are extremely difficult to keep because they typically only eat live foods. Captive bred seahorses are raised on prepared foods, making them much easier to keep. They're quite hardy when provided with the proper seahorse-specific environment and care.
They vary in color based on their diets and environment. They're more likely to display bright colors when provided with brightly colored hitching posts and a blue aquarium background. Carotenoids like astaxanthin in their diets can help them display brighter coloration.
Feeding
Seahorses should be fed a staple diet of frozen Mysis shrimp along with occasional feedings of other small, meaty foods like frozen Spirulina enriched brine shrimp and large species of copepods like frozen Calanus copepods. Young seahorses should be fed 3 - 4+ times a day, and adults at least twice a day.
Compatibility
Young seahorses should ideally be kept in seahorse & pipefish-only tanks or with only the smallest, most peaceful fish species like our nano gobies. As they grow and mature, other appropriate peaceful species may be added to their aquarium. Choose slow moving tank mates that won't outcompete the seahorses for food. Basslets, Cardinalfish, Filefish, and similar species can make good tank mates for full grown, acclimated adults.
Seahorses are slow and easily injured by other life forms in the tank. Very small hermit crabs are safe, but do not keep seahorses with larger crabs and hermit crabs or any animals that could pinch or harm them physically. Stinging anemones and any stinging corals like Euphyllia are not suitable tank mates for seahorses.
Soft corals like mushrooms, Zoanthus, Toadstool, Sinularia, Tree corals, Xenia, Green Star Polyps, and gorgonians are excellent additions to a seahorse tank.
This species prefers cooler temperatures than tropical seahorses and will likely need an aquarium chiller for best health. A heater may be provided for stability, but make sure the heater is covered or placed in a sump, as seahorses can be burned by hitching their tails around the heater. Adults can reach up to 3" long. A 20 gallon aquarium is the minimum size for an adult pair.
Seahorses are very different from other aquarium fish, and their care and requirements are also unique to them. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions at support@thebiotagroup.com