{"product_id":"bigbelly-seahorse","title":"Bigbelly Seahorse | Hippocampus abdominalis","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Bigbelly Seahorse (Pot-Belly Seahorse) is an enchanting, characterful seahorse and the largest species in the world. It is an Australian and New Zealand native from cooler waters, so it is important to understand that this is a temperate, cool-water animal that usually needs a chiller, not a tropical reef fish. Kept in a calm, dedicated tank with peaceful tank mates and regular feeding, it is a rewarding specimen for the dedicated keeper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the wild, the Bigbelly Seahorse is associated with temperate seagrass beds, sponge gardens, jetty pylons and macroalgae along the southern coasts of Australia and New Zealand. It anchors to holdfasts with its prehensile tail and ambushes drifting crustaceans. Replicating this environment means providing cool, stable water, gentle flow, plenty of hitching posts such as macroalgae, seagrass or artificial supports, and a peaceful setting. This is a cool-water system and should not be run at tropical reef temperatures.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Bigbelly Seahorse has the deep, rounded belly that gives it its name, a long prehensile tail and colours ranging from cream and yellow to brown and near-black, often changing to match its surroundings and mood. It is the largest seahorse, reaching around 35 cm including the tail, so it needs a tall tank with room to hitch and hang. Healthy specimens are alert, feeding actively, well-filled through the trunk and using the tail confidently to grip, without patchy skin, laboured breathing or a collapsed posture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is best described as peaceful and slow. Seahorses are gentle, deliberate feeders that are easily outcompeted and stressed by active fish. They are best kept in a dedicated seahorse tank, either alone, as a pair, or in a small group. Suitable companions, if any, are limited to other very calm, cool-water-tolerant, slow-feeding species. Avoid active fish, aggressive species, stinging corals and anything that will outcompete them for food or harass them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding should be frequent and targeted. Offer frozen mysis shrimp as a staple, along with enriched live foods, fed one to several times daily. Seahorses are slow, methodical feeders, so food must be presented where they can reach it and uneaten food removed to protect water quality. Many aquacultured Bigbelly Seahorses are already trained onto frozen mysis, which makes them far easier to sustain than wild-caught individuals. Target feeding and a calm tank without food competition are key.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a dedicated, taller aquarium of at least 200 L, with larger systems better for stability, and importantly a chiller to hold cool temperatures. Maintain temperature in the cool range of around 16–22°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Keep flow gentle, with protected filter intakes, and provide numerous hitching posts. Use reliable biological filtration, protein skimming and regular water changes, as seahorses are sensitive to water quality. Excellent, stable, cool water and a reliable food supply matter far more than decoration. This is an advanced, specialist animal best suited to a purpose-built cool-water setup.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBigbelly Seahorses are among the more commonly bred seahorses. As in all seahorses, the male carries the eggs in a brood pouch and gives birth to live, well-developed young. With a mature pair, cool stable conditions and abundant small live foods for the fry, captive breeding is achievable for dedicated keepers, though rearing large broods is demanding. Aquacultured stock is preferred for both ethics and hardiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHippocampus abdominalis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBigbelly Seahorse (Pot-Belly Seahorse)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperate seagrass and sponge habitats of southern Australia and New Zealand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e35 cm (including tail)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–7 years with excellent care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful and slow\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced (cool-water specialist)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L (dedicated, taller tank)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarger dedicated system with a chiller\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; frozen mysis and enriched live foods, fed frequently\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16–22°C (cool water; chiller usually required)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDedicated, cool-water seahorse systems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe with peaceful, non-stinging tank mates only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates are limited to very calm, slow-feeding, cool-water-tolerant species, or best of all other Bigbelly Seahorses in a dedicated tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with active or aggressive fish, fast greedy feeders, stinging corals and anemones, and anything that will outcompete or harass them. Do not keep at tropical temperatures.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234137784611,"sku":"BA8594-S-AU","price":120.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234137817379,"sku":"BA8594","price":140.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234137850147,"sku":"BA8594-L-AU","price":160.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-35cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55351937728803,"sku":"BA8594-XL-AU","price":185.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Captive Bred","offer_id":55562753802531,"sku":"BA8594-S-CB","price":120.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Captive Bred","offer_id":55562753835299,"sku":"BA8594-M-CB","price":140.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Captive Bred","offer_id":55562753868067,"sku":"BA8594-L-CB","price":160.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-35cm) \/ Captive Bred","offer_id":55562753900835,"sku":"BA8594-XL-CB","price":185.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/bigbelly-seahorse-43090654429475.webp?v=1790306141","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/bigbelly-seahorse","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}