Barbour's Seahorse

Barbour's seahorse is a seahorse from Southeast Asia, recognized by the prominent, sharp spines on its body rings and head; there are dark lines along its snout, and its body is finely spotted on a light yellowish-brown base. In the wild it lives in waters shallower than 12 meters, in seagrass beds and clinging to hard corals. It is a popular species in the aquarium trade, but because of heavy collection for traditional medicine its wild populations are assessed by the IUCN as Vulnerable (VU). Legal note: All seahorses are listed in CITES Appendix II; their trade requires a permit. Captive-bred individuals are used to frozen food and much hardier; if available, choose only these.

• At least 120 liters for a pair, in a tall aquarium at least 50 cm deep.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.025, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 22–26°C.
• Gentle flow; gorgonians, macroalgae and vertical objects to hold on to.
• Reef-safe, but only with non-stinging corals; anemones and stinging corals injure it.

Carnivorous; since it has no stomach it must be fed 2–3 times a day. Enriched frozen mysis is the staple food; supplement with live brine shrimp and copepods. Leftover food must be removed immediately.

Peaceful, slow and timid. Fast and greedy fish snatch its food.

Good companions: Other seahorses, small and calm gobies, cardinalfish, nerite and Cerith snails.

Avoid: Fast and greedy fish, pufferfish and triggerfish, crabs, anemones and stinging corals.