Monday, September 18, 2000
Aquarium’s sea
dragons cast a spell
Press release photo
Leafy sea dragons come from the waters
off southern Australia.
Last week at the Waikiki Aquarium, I saw the best
fish I have ever seen in my life. Really. From the first time I ever
donned a dive mask or gazed into a fish tank, I have never seen a more
breathtaking species. I stayed at the facility until closing time and
still didn't want to go.
Only after I promised myself I would come again soon
did I willingly bid farewell to the aquarium's stunning new residents:
three leafy sea dragons.
I know I'm gushing, but most people do when they see
these fish. When you first look into the big tank, you see three pieces
of drifting seaweed. But a closer look at those golden plants shows the
"leaves" are actually extensions of the fishes' skin. From
there it's easy to spot the two independently moving eyes, the sea-horsy
face and an armored body full of spikes. You can never overlook the sea
dragons again.
The leafy sea dragon is native to the chilly waters
off the southern coast of Australia. There the well-camouflaged fish
hover in kelp forests, suctioning up passing shrimp and other
crustaceans.
Leafy sea dragons are both unusual and rare, making
them a coveted species in the aquarium trade. In Japan, people have paid
up to $10,000 for a mature sea dragon.
Fortunately, the Australian government strictly
regulates collecting and promotes aquaculturing of this fish. The
aquarium's sea dragons (and most others) were grown specifically for
this purpose. This is a tricky business since so far no one has yet been
able to breed this species in captivity.
Currently, people raise sea dragons by obtaining a
government permit to collect a limited number of pregnant males, then
raise the offspring when they hatch.
Yep, pregnant males. Like their close relatives, the
sea horses, it's the males that carry the fertile eggs.
A male sea dragon carries his eggs on his rear
underside until they hatch in four to five weeks. Newly hatched sea
dragons are about three-quarters of an inch long. In two years, the fish
reach their mature length of 15 to 20 inches.
The sea dragons in the Waikiki Aquarium arrived when
they were about 3 months old. Thanks to patient hand-feeding, chilled
water and lots of TLC, the 8-month-old dragonettes are healthy and now
ready for display.
And what a display it is. Next to the big tank
holding the fish, a wall exhibit tells all about sea dragons and their
relatives. One section is specifically designed for children, and the
kids I saw there loved it.
This is the year of the dragon on the Chinese
calendar, and lucky for us, the year of the sea dragon at the Waikiki
Aquarium. I'll see you there.
