Lined Seahorse (Hippocampus erectus)

The Lined Seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) is one of the hardier, more adaptable seahorses in the hobby and the species most often available captive-bred, which makes it a better starting point than most of its wild-caught relatives. Like all seahorses, the male carries the developing young in a specialized brood pouch through pregnancy — one of the only true examples of male pregnancy in the animal kingdom. They're slow, deliberate ambush feeders that can't compete with fast, aggressive tankmates for food, so they do best in a species-specific or seahorse-only setup with plenty of low-flow perching spots. Their prehensile tail anchors them to coral, macroalgae, or aquascape to hold position against current rather than swimming against it constantly.

Care level: Moderate · Temperament: Peaceful · Max size: ~7" · Min tank: 30 gal, species-only · Diet: Carnivore, frozen mysis + live foods