Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Family
Syngnathidae (seahorses and pipefishes)
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
2.4 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Care level
expert
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
with_caution

Care

Tank and decor: this tiny seahorse lives its whole life on a particular kind of sea fan, which is itself very hard to keep. It is not suitable for home aquaria and is best left to research and specialist public aquaria. We do not give a minimum tank size. Water: the list marks this species as tropical. Our sources give no further figures, so the values here are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4 and specific gravity 1.023–1.026. Seahorses are very sensitive to poor water quality and to bacterial infections, so keep the tank clean and well filtered. Identification: the list describes it as white with pink (occasionally yellow) knobbly bumps that match its host sea fan. The list gives a maximum size of 2.4 cm. All seahorses (genus Hippocampus) are listed on CITES Appendix II. In Great Britain, CITES Appendix II species are Annex B under the wildlife trade regulations, so sellers must be able to show the fish was legally imported or captive-bred and keep the paperwork. Captive-bred seahorses are strongly preferred: they settle better and usually accept frozen food. Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies). Checked October 2026.

Diet

In the wild it lives on, and feeds among, sea fans (Muricella gorgonians), picking off tiny planktonic crustaceans such as copepods. It is not known to adapt to aquarium foods. Only a supply of very small live food would be suitable; this is beyond almost all home aquaria.

Breeding

As in all seahorses, the male carries the eggs in a brood pouch and later releases fully formed young; there is no further parental care. Pairs often greet each other with a daily courtship display. The fry are tiny and need live food such as rotifers, copepods or newly hatched brine shrimp, and are best raised in a separate tank. Our sources for this page give no further species-specific breeding details.

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe with caution in the sense that it harms nothing, but it can only be kept with its host sea fan and without any fish that would eat or outcompete it. In practice it should not be mixed with other fish.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

About Aquatic-Auctions

  • Aquatic-Auctions (aquatic-auctions.com) is a UK online marketplace for aquarium and pond livestock and equipment: tropical and marine fish, corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, aquatic plants, tanks, filtration, lighting and food.
  • Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
  • Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers must offer PayPal and may also take cash on collection. Business sellers take PayPal (required) or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have a seller rating of 50 out of 100, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
  • Buyers are told to pay by PayPal Goods & Services, never PayPal Friends and Family, gift cards or crypto.
  • Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
  • Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
  • Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
  • Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
  • The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
  • Aquatic-Auctions is run by Etavonni Tech Limited trading as Aquatic-Auctions (company number 10204188), Aldershot, Hampshire, UK. Contact: info@aquatic-auctions.com.