Common name: Denise's pygmy seahorse
General information
Denise's Pygmy Seahorse, scientifically known as Hippocampus denise, is a captivating species of seahorse in the family Syngnathidae. This tiny seahorse is renowned for its ability to blend into its surroundings, thanks to its small size and the ability to mimic the color and texture of the gorgonian corals it inhabits. They are often yellow, orange, or pink and have a series of bulbous tubercles on their skin that resemble the polyps of the host gorgonian.
Details
- Recommended minimum tank volume
- 75 liter (20 gallons)
- Salinity
- S.G. 1.022 to 1.025
- Temperature
- 23 to 26 °C (73 to 79 °F)
- Acidity
- pH 8.1 to 8.4
- Average size
- 6 cm (2½″)
- Care level
- Moderate to easy Needs stable conditions
- Diet
- Carnivore Live, frozen mysis shrimp
- Social
- Pair Pairs are often monogamous
- Reefsafe
- Yes
- Aggression
- Peaceful
- Captive bred
- Yes Available captive-bred
Taxonomy
- KingdomAnimalsAnimalia
- PhylumChordatesChordata
- ClassRay-finned FishesActinopterygii
- OrderPipefishesSyngnathiformes
- FamilyPipefishesSyngnathidae
- GenusSeahorseHippocampus
- SpeciesDenise's pygmy seahorseHippocampus denise Lourie & Randall, 2003
Care
Caring for Denise's Pygmy Seahorse in captivity is challenging due to their specific habitat and dietary requirements. They require a mature, stable, and well-established reef tank with plenty of live gorgonian corals to cling to and hide among. These seahorses feed on tiny crustaceans, so a supply of live copepods and other microfauna is essential for their survival.
Reproduction
Like other seahorses, Denise's Pygmy Seahorse is ovoviviparous, with males carrying the fertilized eggs in a brood pouch until they hatch. Breeding them in captivity is difficult and rarely successful, but if conditions are ideal, the male will display a courtship dance to attract a female. After mating, the female deposits her eggs into the male's pouch, where they develop until the miniature seahorses are born fully formed.
Symbiosis
Denise's Pygmy Seahorse forms a fascinating symbiotic relationship with gorgonian corals, particularly of the genus Muricella. The seahorse's camouflage is so effective that it is often indistinguishable from the coral's polyps, providing it with protection from predators. This relationship also benefits the gorgonian by having the seahorse act as a deterrent to small coral-eating organisms.
Habitat
This species is typically found in the Western Pacific, from Indonesia to Northern Australia and as far north as Southern Japan. They inhabit coral reefs and are usually associated with gorgonian corals at depths ranging from 13 to over 100 meters, although they are most commonly spotted at depths of 16 to 40 meters.