Thorny Seahorse (Hippocampus histrix)
Fish in the family Syngnathidae. Hard care. Reef Safe.
Quick facts
Appearance
The Thorny Seahorse has a slender, upright body with a curled prehensile tail characteristic of seahorses. It displays prominent thorn-like tubercles (bony protrusions) covering its body, giving it its common name. Coloration ranges from yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, often with darker mottling or banding.
Diet and feeding
Feed live copepods and amphipods as primary diet; supplement with small enriched frozen mysis shrimp. Seahorses are slow, deliberate feeders and require abundant small live prey for optimal nutrition in captivity.
Difficulty and care for the Thorny Seahorse
Advanced - Requires experienced care due to sensitive nature specific habitat needs or complex dietary requirements. Best for expert aquarists.
Common health issues
Poor feeding in new tanks, gas bubble disease, bacterial infections, parasitic copepods
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region from Indonesia and the Philippines west to the Great Barrier Reef and south to Australia. Found in shallow coastal seagrass beds and mangrove areas.
Log Thorny Seahorse in your reef tank
Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Thorny Seahorse alongside everything else in your reef.
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