Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (Temperate water)

Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, commonly known as the Common seadragon, is a large seadragon. These majestic animals that are closely related to the seahorses and come from the temperate waters of Australia. They've a variable base colour, ranging from grey with purple to golden-yellow to orange. The body and long snout are covered in small spots. But what makes them unique are their brown to often purple seaweed-like appendages that are hanging all over their body.

It might not come as a surprise that these animals live in kelp beds, where their kelp-like camouflage makes them hard to spot for preys and predators. The females lay around 250 eggs which are incubated by the males under their tails, where they possess a sponge-like tissue that holds the eggs. Like seahorses they don't have a stomach and need to eat the entire day. This also makes up the biggest challenge in keeping seadragons, you need to make sure they can eat all day. And because they usually only eat live or frozen food, this is hard to automate.

Besides their constant need for food and the fact that they need a low temperature, their swimming ability also needs to be kept in mind. Seadragons can handle quit some flow, but they lack stamina, so they do need zones with little flow and something to hold on to, so they can rest. Also try to prevent strong stinging corals like Euphyllia and some other LPS and anemones. Most soft corals and SPS are fine though. The other way around, because seadragons hold on to the corals they sometimes can irritate/damage the corals, especially if they always grab on to the same spot. Also make sure not to combine them with fish that can nibble on their appendages. All this in mind they probably do best in a special tank designed just for them so these amazing creatures can really shine!