Kuda Seahorse 7cm

The Kuda Seahorse has variety of colouration. It can be pale yellow or black, and covered with dark circles, spots, or bands. It is also able to shift colour to match its’ surroundings. Using its camouflage to hide from predators.

Kuda Seahorses can grow up to 28 centimetres (11 in).

It is difficult to distinguish males and females during the first 6 months. Differences are more clear during mating. It should be possible to see the males brooding pouch, and its’ anal fin is smaller than the females.

Kuda Seahorses stay with same partner, only seeking a new mate if their partner dies. Mating starts with the male performing a courtship ritual. This ritual involves changing its’ colouration and dancing around the female. The mating pair will entwine their tails and move over the seabed, until they are facing each other. The female uses her ovipositor to deposit her eggs in the males brooding pouch. This repeats every morning, even after the male is pregnant.

Kuda Seahorses are best suited to a same species only aquarium, either as a pair or in small groups. It is not advised to house them with territorial, aggressive, or fast-moving fish.

Small crustaceans are at risk if housed in the same tank as the seahorses may eat them. Seahorses will often attach themselves to stationary objects in an aquarium. They will not venture too far from their chosen holdfast. Only choosing somewhere new if the habitat gets destroyed or their partner dies.

Breeding is not easy, and if there is success, the babies are difficult to feed.

Average lifespan for these Seahorses is 2-5 years.

Tank Recommendations for the Kuda Seahorse

Caring for Seahorses isn't as hard as people think. They do not have many natural defences and have a delicate immune system. A tank needs to have completed the aquarium nitrogen cycle before housing them.

A single pair of Seahorses can live in a 50-gallon (189 litre) tank. Add 10 gallons for each extra pair. Avoid housing with small crustaceans as they may eat them.

Natural habitats include coastal areas, mangroves, estuaries, harbours, and pelagic open water environments.

Kudo Seahorse are reef safe. It is preferable to keep them in a tank with a weak current on account of their poor swimming ability.

Seahorses need objects in the tank that they can hold on to. They will use their prehensile tails for this. Objects like, artificial plants, smooth rocks, artificial branches or corals are ideal. Trying to avoid Sharp rocks and corals to make sure they don't hurt them selves.

Seahorses are very sensitive to rapid changes in salinity. It is important to check the specific gravity of the tank and transport water. Then to acclimatise them slowly if the salinities are very different.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Kuda Seahorses are peaceful and best housed with their own species or with small, shy, non-aggressive fish.

There are few animals which are suitable to co-habit with seahorses. Many are detrimental to the seahorse quality of life and they may eat small crustaceans.

Usually Compatible

It is preferable to house Kudo Seahorse’ with their own species, but Dragonets may be suitable tank buddies. Other safe options include, Gorgonians, Feather Dusters, small Hermit Crabs, Snails, and Peppermint Shrimp.

Sometime Compatible

Be careful if keeping with Dartfish, Gobies and Jawfish.

Rarely Compatible

Small Invertebrates are often eaten. Don't keep them with aggressive, territorial, or fast-moving fish compete for food. Avoid Angels, Anthias, Blennies, Chromis Damsels, Puffers, Filefish and Wrasse as these compete for food. Whilst Groupers, Lions/Scorpions, Sharks/Rays, Tangs, Triggers may all eat them.

Feeding Your Kuda Seahorse

Kudo Seahorses are carnivorous. In the wild they survive on a diet of live moving food, such as small shrimp and crustaceans.

These Kuda Seahorses have are captivity bred and are eating frozen Mysis Shrimp.

They also eat small crustaceans such as amphipods and organisms attached to live rock. Consuming food is a slow process, so give them at least 2 small servings per day.