Does anyone own a Leafy Sea Dragon??
- Thread starter carpus
- Start date
Fishfreak218
New member
i think they are illegal...im glad i dont see them in any LFS........i think they are indangered or something..but i could be totaly wrong....
EmergencyDpt
New member
What a great looking animal. There is a tank of them at Montaray bay aquarium. The guide said they cost $25k each. There is supposed to be one guy in austrailia who breeds them.
greenbean36191
Premium Member
There are a few aquariums in the US that breed them too, but no, they don't make it into the hobby... at least not legally. They're cold water fish anyway.
pledosophy
Active member
There is no one breeding Leafy's. Public Aquariums have been succsessful a handful of time breeding Weedy seadragon's but I really mean a handful of times.
There is a guy, David and his wife Tracy, in Australia that have some Leafy's, to my knowledge they have never been able to breed them. I think he would have mentioned it if they did.
There are som ehobbyist in Hong Kong who keep them, they have far less restrictions on imports there.
Leafy's are impracticle for the average hobbyist to keep because of the size tank they need and there cost. They are strictly protected in Australia, and I hope they stay that way.
There was a LFS here that was selling them about 6 years ago for only 1g. Kind of a bargin no? They have not had any for some time.
There is a guy, David and his wife Tracy, in Australia that have some Leafy's, to my knowledge they have never been able to breed them. I think he would have mentioned it if they did.
There are som ehobbyist in Hong Kong who keep them, they have far less restrictions on imports there.
Leafy's are impracticle for the average hobbyist to keep because of the size tank they need and there cost. They are strictly protected in Australia, and I hope they stay that way.
There was a LFS here that was selling them about 6 years ago for only 1g. Kind of a bargin no? They have not had any for some time.
Seahorsewisprer
In Memoriam
Tracy Warland something, the author who runs syngnathid.com? I spoke with her on her site a few times. She seems really nice and knowlegable.
We need to be just a bit patient with these fish. With the push for advanced aquarists to breed some of the harder to breed in captivity fish, it is just a matter of time before everything else is done and somebody gets the elusive grand prize o'
CaptiveBreederofalltime!!!
Seahorsewisprer
In Memoriam
NanoLurker
Member
pledosophy is correct, no one has figured out how to breed leafy's. the aquarium of the pacific in long beach was the first to breed/rear weedy's but the leafy's are a whole 'nother nut. they are currently experimenting with temperature and lighting fluctuations and a few other things - time will tell.
i know of one person who has, i believe, a weedy here in california. i've never seen it but my vet has.
i know of one person who has, i believe, a weedy here in california. i've never seen it but my vet has.
pledosophy
Active member
Yeah Suzy I meant the Warlands. I have conversed with David several times. Very nice and knowledgable chap. First I ever heard Tracy owns Syngnathid.org, or was an author for that matter, but I have seen her on the boards.
They own a breed facility in OZ. Hopefull one day I can get some brevies from them. Oh the things dreams are made of.
They own a breed facility in OZ. Hopefull one day I can get some brevies from them. Oh the things dreams are made of.
cutsupremetrib
In Memoriam
the tampa aquarium has some of these georgeous animals
pledosophy
Active member
Many public aquariums do. The display at the Aquarium of the Pacific is quite nice.
alien9168
New member
The natl. aquarium in baltimore. I think they sent them away to europe though. I saw them and I have to say...THEY ARE AMAZING!!!
The creatures are not only beutiful, but are incredibly camaflaged when you see them in real life...like amidst kelp(thats how they had them in the natl. aquarium.)
This sounds obvious...being the LEAFY seadragon, but youd be surprised how hard it was to find them initially amongs the kelp. Of course once you find them you cant take your eyes off them!
-Alien
The creatures are not only beutiful, but are incredibly camaflaged when you see them in real life...like amidst kelp(thats how they had them in the natl. aquarium.)
This sounds obvious...being the LEAFY seadragon, but youd be surprised how hard it was to find them initially amongs the kelp. Of course once you find them you cant take your eyes off them!
-Alien
modernsavage
New member
i cant wait to be able to buy some of these!
greenighs
New member
Well, to keep one alive and healthy, you'd need a very large tank (500 gallons+) and an industrial-sized chiller, and an ongoing source of various live foods. Oh, and the proper permits and licences to keep them, and about $2500 per animal .... Maybe some day they'll be in every fish store, but many, many of them will have to die in less than ideal conditions before we figure out how to do it right. 
delafe
New member
There are a few at the New York Aquarium. About the only tanks worth looking at are the seahorse tanks!
There used to be a guy in Canada that claimed he was breeding them and sold them for 15K each, I suspect he was just importing them illegally.
If I am not mistaken, they are on the endangered species list and they DEFINATELY are listed in CITES.
Regards,
-Alfred
There used to be a guy in Canada that claimed he was breeding them and sold them for 15K each, I suspect he was just importing them illegally.
If I am not mistaken, they are on the endangered species list and they DEFINATELY are listed in CITES.
Regards,
-Alfred
Public Aquaria and research groups are the only ones who are able to get them legally. They are collected during the month of January only and are protected by CITES and IUCN. I believe the cost to our zoo is $2,500 per dragon.
Not to mention I don't think most people would want to keep a 300 gallon aquarium and only have one fish in it.
Not to mention I don't think most people would want to keep a 300 gallon aquarium and only have one fish in it.
Seahorsewisprer
In Memoriam
Welcome to RC, Btuck! Which aquarium are you with?
Thanks for the welcome Seahorsewisprer. Perhaps I was somewhat misleading in my last post. I myself do not work for the zoo (Indianapolis) but do have friends in the aquatics section. I do have a tendency to go somewhat overboard in my research when I am interested in a topic. Perhaps I am just a bit OCD.
