The ORA Captive-Bred Tigertail Seahorse (Hippocampus comes) is a striking tropical seahorse known for its distinctive yellow and black banding along the tail and unmistakable upright swimming behavior.

Captive-bred by ORA, these seahorses are raised to accept frozen mysis shrimp, eliminating one of the major challenges historically associated with wild-caught seahorses. However, Tigertail Seahorses still require specialized husbandry, frequent feeding and an aquarium designed around their unique needs. ORA reports a maximum size of approximately 6 inches, with specimens offered around 2 inches.

Advanced Care – Not Recommended for Beginners

Tigertail Seahorses are not recommended for beginner aquarists.

Captive breeding does not make a seahorse equivalent to a typical community marine fish. Seahorses are slow, methodical feeders and require careful attention to feeding, tankmates, flow, water quality and aquarium design.

ORA recommends keeping Tigertail Seahorses in a species-only aquarium with limited competition for food and feeding frozen mysis at least 2–3 times per day.

Prospective owners should have experience maintaining stable marine aquarium conditions and should research seahorse husbandry thoroughly before ordering.

Care Requirements

Care Level: Advanced
Temperament: Peaceful
Scientific Name: Hippocampus comes
Maximum Size: Approximately 6 inches
Approximate Purchase Size: Approximately 2 inches
Diet: Carnivore
Primary Food: Frozen mysis shrimp
Feeding Frequency: At least 2–3 times daily
Recommended Aquarium: Dedicated or species-focused seahorse system
Aquaculture: Captive-Bred by ORA
Sex: Unsexed

ORA's captive-bred Tigertails are raised on frozen mysis, but their slow feeding style means aggressive or fast-feeding tankmates can easily outcompete them.

Aquarium Setup

Provide a mature, stable marine aquarium with gentle water movement and plenty of suitable hitching structures where the seahorse can anchor its tail.

Avoid aggressive tankmates and animals that create excessive competition during feeding. A dedicated seahorse aquarium provides much greater control over feeding, flow and livestock compatibility.

Seahorses should never be purchased as an impulse addition to a typical reef or community marine aquarium.

Feeding

Feed defrosted frozen mysis shrimp at least 2–3 times per day.

Observe the seahorse during feeding to ensure it is actively eating and receiving enough food. Because seahorses feed slowly, simply adding food to a heavily stocked aquarium does not guarantee that the animal receives adequate nutrition.

Captive-Bred by ORA

Captive breeding is a major advantage with seahorses. ORA raises its seahorses to accept frozen foods, avoiding the dependence on live foods historically associated with wild-caught animals.

Purchasing captive-bred animals also reduces collection pressure on wild seahorse populations.

Important Livestock Notice

This listing is for one unsexed Tigertail Seahorse.

Sex is not guaranteed.

Photos are representative of the species. Because this is a living animal, coloration, markings, size and appearance will naturally vary between individual specimens.

Live Animal Shipping

$39.99 Overnight Live Animal Shipping Fee Per Order

Live fish and invertebrates ship Monday through Wednesday via FedEx Priority Overnight in appropriate insulated packaging.

Orders containing multiple qualifying live animals are charged the live-animal shipping fee once per order, not once per animal.

Weather conditions may delay shipment when necessary for animal safety. Tracking information will be provided once the order ships.

Live Arrival & Health Guarantee

We take the health and safe arrival of every live animal seriously.

Live Arrival Guarantee: Live fish and invertebrates are guaranteed to arrive alive when delivered on the first carrier attempt and when all applicable shipping and acclimation requirements are followed.

If an animal arrives deceased, contact Infinity and Beyond Aquatics immediately upon delivery and provide clear photographs of the animal in the unopened shipping bag along with any additional information requested to process the claim.

After arrival, livestock health depends heavily on aquarium conditions, acclimation, compatibility, feeding and husbandry. Claims involving losses after introduction to the aquarium are subject to the terms of our current Live Animal Arrival & Health Guarantee Policy.

Shipping charges and live-animal fees are non-refundable unless otherwise stated in the policy.

Please review our complete Live Animal Arrival & Health Guarantee Policy before purchasing. By placing an order for live livestock, you acknowledge the specialized care requirements of the animal and agree to the applicable live-animal shipping and guarantee terms.

Before Ordering This Seahorse

Please confirm that you have an established marine aquarium appropriate for seahorses, suitable hitching structures, gentle flow, appropriate tankmates and the ability to provide frozen mysis multiple times every day.

This animal should not be purchased for a new aquarium or by a first-time marine aquarist.

Why Buy From Infinity and Beyond Aquatics?

Infinity and Beyond Aquatics offers carefully selected captive-bred marine livestock from trusted aquaculture producers such as ORA.

We believe specialized livestock should be sold with realistic care expectations, not treated like an ordinary aquarium purchase. Researching the animal and preparing the appropriate environment before it arrives gives both the aquarist and the animal the best chance of long-term success