A strikingly patterned seahorse discovered by a fish collector in Hawaii. Image courtesy Pacific Island Aquatics A very unusual seahorse was recently collected by an aquarium diver in Hawaii. The seahorse is currently residing with Kevin Rezendes of Pacific Island Aquatics, an e-tailer of Hawaiian and other Indo-Pacific fish based in Oahu, Hawaii. Image courtesy Pacific Island Aquatics First shared privately, Rezendes wrote, “A local diver sent me this pic a few minutes ago and asked if I thought this was an ocellaris or a percula seahorse…I’ve never seen this coloration before here in Hawaii. Seeing there is only two species in Hawaii, we believe its a Hippocampus kuda. Thought I’d share. Aloha!” Image courtesy Pacific Island Aquatics Dubbed “Nemo the Hawaiian Seahorse”, the water pony does bear a striking color resemblance to the classic orange, black and white clownfish. Staff opinion is divided on which clownfish species (Amphiprion ocellaris, or A. percula) is more embodied by this strikingly unique species. Late Wednesday, Rezendes filled in a few more details for us – “Nemo” the Hawaiian Seahorse was found “by Andy Walters on the east side of Oahu in shallow water.” The fish is currently being held in the full salinity invertebrate systems at PIA. Image courtesy Pacific Island Aquatics Speculation is already running rampant about this fish. It remains to be seen whether it will be offered for retail sale, or if it may find its way through other channels to breeders or the scientific community. The hunt is on to see if there are any more like it in the vicinity. Image courtesy Pacific Island Aquatics Of course, as most seahorse keepers will tell you, whether or not this unqiue coloration will be retained in captivity remains to be seen. We can only hope. MORE: Nemo the Hawaiian Seahorse
Nemo the Hawaiian Seahorse
by Reef To Rainforest | Jul 15, 2013 | Fish, Opinion, Seahorses | 0 comments
REEF to RAINFOREST MEDIA is an independent, award-winning publishing house based in Shelburne, Vermont founded in 2009. Reef to Rainforest publishes high-acclaimed magazines, digital content, and books for aquarists and underwater naturalists. CORAL is the world’s leading marine aquarium magazine, read in English in more than 100 countries. Available in high-quality print and digital editions. AMAZONAS is the world’s leading freshwater-only aquarium magazine. Both titles are originally published in German by Matthias Schmidt and Natur und Tier -Verlag, Meunster, Germany, and are now available in English in high-quality print and digital editions produced by Reef to Rainforest Media.
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