Leafy Sea Dragons

[maverickmal]

Anyone know of anyone that keep the above stunning creatures, I know there are some in larger professional Aquariums but unsure as to whether they can be or are kept in home Aquariums....anyone?

Ta

[Jules]

I don't know of anyone keeping them in a home aquarium, would imagine it would need to be quite a big system... and you'd need deep pockets as I did ask a wholesaler once how much they were, their eybrows raised quite a bit then they told me the price... i wasn't that shocked but won't be getting one anytime soon!

[maverickmal]

Nice :) Come on then Jules.....tell me, i'm sitting down

[Jules]

Okay... I was quoted £10k for a decent sized leafy sea dragon and that was a few years ago. Now i believe they have to be aquacultured by licensed breeders so i doubt it's very easy to get one at all.

[Joanna]

I don't know much about them except that they are rare. Are they the same as Weedy Dragons? You can buy these from Rare Ocean (see link) but they are out of stock and the price is shocking! http://www.rareocean.co.uk/rareocean/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21_76&products_id=513

So unique though!

Joanna

[denise.gardner]

leafy sea dragons needto be kept in a very large aquarium as they grow very large and they need alot of very expensive equipment .most places have them in tanks at least 12 foot square and have ozone sterilizesation.they are different to weedy sea dragons but are often kept together.i think there are hardly any in private hands because of cost and difficulty of keeping themhttp://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/Picture 155_1.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/Picture 156_3.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/Picture 157_2.jpg

[nwc]

Leefy and weedy seadragons do need to be kept in large tanks at a temp of 55 to 60 they need a dimmer switch so the light going on and off does not stress them they need live mysis as its very hard to train them on to frozen food .They need about five foot in depth of water to breed.As far as i know they have not been bred in the uk they can be kept with pottbellyed seahorses and yes they do cost alot of money.I have a tank at home ready for them when i get the money together to buy them may be twelve mths away yet.leafy sea dragons needto be kept in a very large aquarium as they grow very large and they need alot of very expensive equipment .most places have them in tanks at least 12 foot square and have ozone sterilizesation.they are different to weedy sea dragons but are often kept together.i think there are hardly any in private hands because of cost and difficulty of keeping themhttp://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/Picture 155_1.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/Picture 156_3.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/Picture 157_2.jpg

[denise.gardner]

i looked into getting leafy seadragons but was told they are not available to the general public in england as they are a totaly protected .the only people able to get them are places like seaworld and very large aquariums.you can get weedy seadragons but they are upwards of £2500 and climbing as their price is dictated by the strength of the pound they grow to about 18 inches and are very hard to keep .i spent along time talking to someone who looks after these amazing creatures and even they have problems keeping them.i was told that nobody has been able to breed them in captivaty

[Kev s]

You can see them if you are lucky while snorkelling in manley bay (the ocean side up past the swimming pool).

Cool creatures!

Kev

[ukoldschool]

I have friends in Adelaide and you can see 4 or 5 of them on a particular dive site apparantly

[nwc]

I imported over twenty weedy seadragons at one point for the sealife centres.Housed them for three mths while they were waiting to go out must admit it was nerve racking but they are stunning.i looked into getting leafy seadragons but was told they are not available to the general public in england as they are a totaly protected .the only people able to get them are places like seaworld and very large aquariums.you can get weedy seadragons but they are upwards of £2500 and climbing as their price is dictated by the strength of the pound they grow to about 18 inches and are very hard to keep .i spent along time talking to someone who looks after these amazing creatures and even they have problems keeping them.i was told that nobody has been able to breed them in captivaty