TankBud

Yellow seahorse

Hippocampus kuda

Also known as Spotted seahorse, Common seahorse, Estuary seahorse, Kuda seahorse

SaltwaterFish

Yellow seahorse (Hippocampus kuda)
Emőke Dénes · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
8.0–8.4
Adult size
7.9 in
20 cm
Minimum tank
40 gal
150 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Syngnathidae
Origin
Native to the Indo-Pacific, living in estuaries, seagrass and mangroves, and tolerant of slightly brackish coastal water.

Overview

Because it grows larger, give the yellow seahorse a tall species tank of at least 150 litres with gentle flow and sturdy hitching posts, at 22 to 27 C and pH 8.0 to 8.4. Keep captive-bred fish in pairs or groups and feed enriched frozen mysis shrimp once or twice a day. Only pair it with slow, gentle tankmates and keep it away from stinging anemones, aggressive corals and fast feeders. Watch water quality closely, as seahorses are sensitive to bacterial infections.

In the wild

The yellow seahorse is a larger tropical seahorse that often shows a golden yellow body, though it also comes in brown, black and blotched patterns. It has a smooth, rounded head and a stout body, and grips onto plants and decor with its tail. It is one of the most widely kept and widely farmed seahorses.

Good to know

Hippocampus kuda reaches around 20 cm and is one of the most farmed seahorse species, so tank-raised stock is common. It naturally lives in estuaries and can handle slightly reduced salinity, though it is kept in full-strength saltwater in the hobby. Males brood eggs in a pouch and give birth to hundreds of miniature seahorses.

Did you know

The yellow seahorse naturally lives in river mouths and estuaries and can tolerate brackish water, which is unusual for a fish kept in reef-style saltwater aquariums.

Common questions

What size tank does a Yellow seahorse need?

A Yellow seahorse needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Yellow seahorse need?

A Yellow seahorse is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 8.0–8.4.

How big does a Yellow seahorse get?

An adult Yellow seahorse reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).

Related species