Weedy Sea Dragon

About

The weedy sea dragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) is one of those animals that stops people in their tracks the first time they see one. Related to seahorses and pipefish, it carries elaborate leaf-like appendages along its body that break up its outline almost completely against weedy reef and seagrass habitat. Unlike the more flamboyant leafy sea dragon, the weedy version gets its camouflage from body shape and posture rather than extravagant lobes, but it is no less impressive in person. In the wild, these animals drift slowly through kelp beds and rocky reefs, moving with the current so they look like floating debris. The male carries the eggs attached to a specialized patch on his tail, a reproductive strategy shared with their seahorse relatives. In an aquarium setting, weedy sea dragons are a serious undertaking. They need carefully managed water quality, precise feeding regimens of live or frozen mysid shrimp, and a tank designed around their slow, deliberate movement patterns. They are not a species you pick up on a whim. That said, public aquariums have had success keeping them, and a handful of dedicated private keepers have managed it too. Approach this one with experience, patience, and realistic expectations.