Difference Between Pygmy & Dwarf Seahorses
Pygmy and dwarf seahorses make up the smallest of the hippocampus genus of seahorse. Most species rarely grow more than an inch tall and come in a variety of colors. Pygmy and dwarf seahorses make beautiful aquarium pets for enthusiasts since they don't require huge amounts of water to be happy. When given the proper amount of light, captive seahorses will breed often and produce a dozen or so fry at a time.
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Species sizes
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Pygmy seahorses are an informal group of nine species: H. bargibanti, H. colemani, H. debelius, H. denise, H. minotaur, H. pontohi, H. satomiae, H. severnsi and H. waleananus. Species of this group are smaller than an inch in size, with H. satomiae coming in at only 13 mm when fully grown. Dwarf seahorses (H. zosterae) rarely grow to be more than 30 mm tall.
Breeding
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Like all other seahorses, the male carries the fry. Dwarf seahorse courtships can last several days at a time. When the pair are ready to copulate, they rise into the water column where the female deposits her eggs into the male's pouch. The fry are born 10 days later and instantly latch on to surroundings, including the father. Pygmy seahorse breeding is similar, but the male's brood pouch is located in the trunk of his body instead of the base of the tail like many other seahorse species.
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Habitat
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Dwarf seahorses prefer to inhabit sea grass beds, which protect them from strong ocean currents. They prefer the warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Pygmy seahorses attach to host corals and have the ability to change their colors to blend into the coral. Pygmy seahorses detach from host corals for brief periods, but always stay near or latched to the coral for safety. A camouflaged pygmy is almost unrecognizable from its host coral.
Food
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Both dwarf and pygmy seahorses feed on zooplankton, specifically copepods. Dwarf seahorses in an aquarium environment should be fed twice daily on hatchling brine shrimp. Pygmy seahorses have tiny mouths and no stomach to properly digest their food, so they must eat constantly to get the nutrition they need. Since pygmy seahorses are so small, they rely on their host coral to attract the food that they need. Pygmies require areas that have a high concentration of food, whereas dwarfs are happy as long as there is some food to eat.
Pets
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Dwarf seahorses as pets require daily attention. They need to be fed hatchling brine shrimp daily, and therefore require an owner that will take the time each day to prepare live food. As a result, dwarf seahorses do not make good office aquarium pets, since a weekend without food could lead to disaster. Pygmy seahorses are not suited for aquariums, as they rely on host corals that are difficult to acquire and even more difficult to maintain. The pygmy seahorse's tiny size and the fact that they are hard to acquire make the dwarf a better choice for an aquarium pet.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Seahorse image by King crab from Fotolia.com
