All fish / Syngnathidae

Kellogg's Seahorse

Hippocampus kelloggi

Also known as kellogg's seahorse, great seahorse, kellogg seahorse, offshore seahorse, ม้าน้ำ, kuda laut, クロウミウマ, 克氏海马, 大海马

One of the largest seahorses, with a tall slender body, long snout and fairly smooth, low spines, usually in shades of brown, yellow or dark grey. It is kept by specialist marine hobbyists for its size, upright swimming and calm, curious behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Pair or small group of the same species

Diet

Carnivore: frozen mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp and live small crustaceans, fed several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific: East Africa and Red Sea to India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan and Australia

Breeding

The female deposits eggs in the male's brood pouch, and he gives birth to many fully formed young after a few weeks. Raising the tiny fry needs live foods such as copepods and rotifers and is difficult in home aquariums.

Good to know

Listed on CITES Appendix II and assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, so buy only captive-bred stock with proper permits. Keep it in a tall, quiet tank without fast or nipping tankmates and with plenty of holdfasts; trade names such as 'Caution' are not reliable identifications.