Found among algae, seagrasses and rocky reefs in shallow water; attached to sponges and colonial hydroids in deeper water; also around jetty piles and other man-made objects (Ref. 30915). No differences in diet between male and female seahorses; smaller seahorses consumed a greater amount of crustaceans than larger seahorses; amphipod consumption peaking in spring and summer, and decapod consumption lowest in autumn (Ref. 73407). Observed hunting among the algal blades for prey as well as the surrounding substratum while hitched to the macroalgae, e.g., hunting the epibenthic swarming mysid Tenagomysis similis over sand while attached to the macroalgae fringing sand (Ref. 73407).