is it possible to have a seadragon in your tank?
- Thread starter reefNewbie
- Start date
Actually, they are not endangered. You can follow this link http://www.ea.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl?wanted=fauna#VULNERABLE FISHES to the Australian Environmental Agency website for a list of all fish species that are endangered/vulnerable. However, the Australian government has had the wisdom to make them a protected species (probably because they have a high potential to be exploited). They come from the southern coast of the continent and are a temperate species (meaning they don't like tropical temps). I have heard rumors that they are being farm raised and a while back Splash-Sea http://www.splash-sea.co.jp/top.html a Japanese Aquarium store had a juvenile one for sale.
sedgro
sedgro
There are currently 3 species of seadragon (Phycodures) recognised - the weedy, the ribbon and the leafy.
The weedy is probably the most common, and at the moment there is a commercial seahorse breeder who has 5 of them, with the view to propogation for the aquarium trade. It is a very cold water species (16C).
The leafy is the spectacular floating piece of seaweed, graveful and elegant. Extremely vulnerable and protected by our laws, as stated previously. Also from very cold waters. The same breeder will be attempting them next.
The ribboned comes from northern waters, and is therefore tropical. It looks sort of like an in-between of the other two, kinda like a grunge dragon! Very very cool. No one has them, to my knowledge, just yet, although the breeder mentioned before has just got a permit for collection.
Dragons need extremely large tanks as they grow quite large: at least 6ft deep, 8ft x 8ft would be adequate. Also a heavy duty chiller for the first two species. As any specimens would be WC, I imagine some sort of import permit would be required. They eat very small live foods (BBS doesn't quite do the trick) and they eat a lot.
Wait several years, in the meatime get seahorses & learn all you can about sygnathidae. They are a remarkable fish
The weedy is probably the most common, and at the moment there is a commercial seahorse breeder who has 5 of them, with the view to propogation for the aquarium trade. It is a very cold water species (16C).
The leafy is the spectacular floating piece of seaweed, graveful and elegant. Extremely vulnerable and protected by our laws, as stated previously. Also from very cold waters. The same breeder will be attempting them next.
The ribboned comes from northern waters, and is therefore tropical. It looks sort of like an in-between of the other two, kinda like a grunge dragon! Very very cool. No one has them, to my knowledge, just yet, although the breeder mentioned before has just got a permit for collection.
Dragons need extremely large tanks as they grow quite large: at least 6ft deep, 8ft x 8ft would be adequate. Also a heavy duty chiller for the first two species. As any specimens would be WC, I imagine some sort of import permit would be required. They eat very small live foods (BBS doesn't quite do the trick) and they eat a lot.
Wait several years, in the meatime get seahorses & learn all you can about sygnathidae. They are a remarkable fish
Thanks everyone for the information. I have been wondering about sea dragons and specifically if anyone was raising them captively. I appreciate the information. When I go to public aquariums, two things that I see that I wish that I could have at home, one being a jelly fish tank and the other being a sea dragon.
WingD,
Why not just buy a season pass to the Monterey Bay Aquarium :wink: ? Then you get to look at it all you want and not have to spend thousands and thousands of dollars (not to mention the frustration of trying to keep them alive). Do you know if they still have those exhibits open? I heard they were taking them both down sometime soon (if not already).
Why not just buy a season pass to the Monterey Bay Aquarium :wink: ? Then you get to look at it all you want and not have to spend thousands and thousands of dollars (not to mention the frustration of trying to keep them alive). Do you know if they still have those exhibits open? I heard they were taking them both down sometime soon (if not already).
The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA has two Sea Dragon tanks. From what I understand they are the only aquarium that has had sea dragons successfully reproduce in captivity. They have special filtration systems devoted just to the sea dragon tanks because they are so fragile. I highly recommend that aquarium. Attached is a downsized image I took of the sea dragons (without a flash of course).
Attachments
it is possible...you would need a big tank (about 1000 or larger)...THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE (START FROM 1500)...then have been known to go on frozen mysids and only some people keep them for breeding. It is possible if you have alot of money...I found a website that has some info but i dont think i can post it on here.
Yeah from what I heard a local talk some time back a particular breeder in Australia will get the seadragon, since the male holds the eggs get the juvenile when they spring forth, then return the male back to the same spot he caught it... net price $10k. Needless to say unless you are wiping your but with $100 bills I doubt you'd want to take a risk on one.
Sponsor Reefs
We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.
Click here to sponsor $10:
