Ornate Ghost Pipefish with Eggs

Ornate Ghost Pipefish are more of the most bizarre and most beautiful critters. Around July they start to appaer on many dive sites, usually picking a Feather Star to ‘hide’ in, matching their colour to the host Feather Star.

Unlike all other Seahorses and Pipefish, Ghost Pipefish eggs are looked after by the female, not the male. The female is the larger of the paired Ornates, and is easily recognisable by the large and extended pelvic fins that form a brood pouch. You can see the hundreds of little eggs inside.

The female moves the fins slightly apart and back again to help keep the eggs aerated.