Sea Dragons? is it possible?

[HVF21221]

The National Aquarium in Baltimore had them on display for a while. Someone gave a talk on them and I was told that the collector for the exhibit (which travels around public aquaria) has a permit to collect one pregnant male per year. Once the male releases the babies the male must be returned to the same collection point. Then the babies are raised and used for scientific and educational purposes.

 

[Fignewton]

Amazing!

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

nice piks...

 

[dvmsn]

I went on a behind the scenes tour of the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston. His budget to maintain the tank as $20,000.00 per year. He said they were one of the most temperamental animals in his care. When a public aquarium tells you they are hard, it is good decision not to try them.

 

[Lowredranger]

i saw some at sea world last month very cool looking

 

[rutledgek]

Here is one at the Adventure aquarium in Camden NJ.

Sorry the picture is bad. My digital rebel battery died and I had to use a point and shoot digital. This area of the aquarium is a little dark. Other pictures from the aquarium can be found at

The Camden Aquarium

 

[LukFox]

From the Monterey Bay Aquarium:

It was easily my favorite tank there .

 

[Thurge]

Atlanta has a tank of them. I couldn't get a descent pictuer though.

 

[SDguy]

I think the weedy (not leafy) sea dragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) is being bred in captivity, but don't quote me on that

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6624250#post6624250 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snookcatcher
iv heard you can occasionally get them in california but they cost between 15-25 grand

Leafys run about 50 grand, the smaller type runs about 25 grand.

 

[techigirl78]

Do all these public aquariums have to pay that much to get sea dragons?

 

[RichConley]

Thats what the public aquariums pay. I have no idea what a private collecter would have to pay.

 

[Reefcherie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6644936#post6644936 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LukFox
From the Monterey Bay Aquarium:
It was easily my favorite tank there .

LukFox - how recently did you see them at the Monterey Bay Aquarium? I just went there on 1/21 and went to the spot that the tank used to be and it wasn't there! I didn't see them anywhere and was disappointed.

 

[LukFox]

Oh no! It was something like last summer I think. Dang, that was such a cool tank...

 

[sideways]

The Tennessee Aquarium is breeding them.

 

[Herpervet]

Birch aquarium at Scripps in La Hoya Ca. also has them. I had no idea they were that expensive.

Good lord at that price I bet the few that have them must be scrambling to breed them.

Nothing is impossible and that price tag is one heck of an incentive to raise these guys.

 

[SeanT]

We have them at the aquarium here...I am unsure but I believe UNCW is trying to breed them.

Sean

 

[mal40]

Soooo much mis-information.

They are not illegal in the USA.
They do not require permits.
They are not CITES listed, they are 'data deficient' which means they dont know enough to list.
They can be bought ( Phyllopteryx taeniolatus ) by the home aquarist, but the sellers are usually picky on who they sell to.
They are as dificult to maintain as say a wild caught seahorse.
They require a large tank 500 gallons upwards.
They usually die over 21 degrees C.
They do take frozen foods.

There are three breeders in the UK, one is private, two are aquaria.
There are three breeders in the USA who are attempting to brred them commercially. ( read seahorse.com carefully! )

The current cost in the USA ( if you are suitable ) is about $2000 each.

 

[snorvich]

I have seen both leafy and weedy sea dragons in the ocean (Kangaroo Island just south of Australia) and they are majestic. They are, however, highly susceptible to decompression sickness so observing them is difficult. One has to post a safety diver above them to keep them from rising in the water column. The one is my avatar is a pregnant male who was eating mysis shrimp (which I think is their primary food).

 

[lux_06]

yeh i have a beach house near Kangraoo island and have been diving at the rapid bay jetty where we watched a pair living in a group of old tyres and bottles that were dumped over the edge.

they ARE protected, so protected in fact the enitre area is under consideration to become a marine park just because of this one pair. my dive instructor and good friend works for the South Australian Government and is one of the researchers resposnsible for the new marine parks in this area. Fishing on this jetty has been banned.

they are a South Australian Icon and we never stop hearing about "Save the leafy sea dragon" youd be shot here if u were caught with one.....