Seahorses and pipefish

Seahorses and pipefish are slow, deliberate feeders that struggle in a normal community, so they do best in a species tank built around them. They want gentle flow, frequent small meals and calm tankmates that will not outcompete them, and captive-bred seahorses are far hardier than wild-caught. Each profile lists tank size, feeding and setup notes.

8 species

• African freshwater pipefish

  Enneacampus ansorgii

  5.5 in (14 cm)32 gal (120 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

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  Banded pipefish

  Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus

  7.5 in (19 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

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  Bluestripe pipefish

  Doryrhamphus excisus

  2.8 in (7 cm)26 gal (100 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

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  Brazilian seahorse

  Hippocampus reidi

  6.7 in (17 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

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  Dwarf seahorse

  Hippocampus zosterae

  1.4 in (3.5 cm)5 gal (20 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

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  Freshwater pipefish

  Doryichthys martensii

  5.9 in (15 cm)32 gal (120 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

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  Lined seahorse

  Hippocampus erectus

  7.1 in (18 cm)29 gal (110 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

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  Yellow seahorse

  Hippocampus kuda

  7.9 in (20 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)