All fish / Syngnathidae

Short-head seahorse

Hippocampus breviceps

Also known as short-snouted seahorse, shorthead seahorse, short-headed seahorse, knobby seahorse, short snout seahorse, 短头海马

A small seahorse from cool southern Australian waters, with a short snout, a knobbly head crown and often fleshy filaments on the head and back. Colours range from brown and yellow to purplish red, usually with pale spots or flecks. Keepers like it for its small size, its habit of living in groups and its suitability for a dedicated temperate species tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

16 to 22 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Pair or small group of 4 to 6

Diet

Carnivore: live or frozen mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods and amphipods fed several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Southern Australia (Western Australia to Victoria and Tasmania)

Breeding

The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch and releases fully formed young after about three to four weeks. Captive-bred stock is available and the fry can be raised on copepods and newly hatched brine shrimp, though it takes careful feeding and clean water.

Good to know

It needs cool water, so a chiller is usually required, and it should only share a tank with slow, gentle tankmates. All seahorses are listed on CITES Appendix II, and wild collection is restricted in Australia, so buy captive-bred fish.