For the first time in its history, Shedd Aquarium is celebrating over a dozen weedy seadragon babies, or fry, that successfully hatched behind the scenes to a male seadragon and are being reared by aquarists. These new arrivals mark a milestone as Shedd Aquarium joins only a handful, yet a growing list of other facilities to breed, hatch and raise this unique species of fish. Unlike most other species, but similar to seahorses a related species, the male is responsible for the young until birth. The expectant dad at Shedd Aquarium fertilized and carried eggs on the underside of his tail. After hatching, the weedy seadragon fry are fully independent, feeding and fending for themselves. The aquarium’s care team remains cautiously optimistic about the delicate seadragon babies, as it could take up to two years to grow to adult size. For now, the baby weedy seadragons will remain behind the scenes. Next year, there’s a chance the new additions might join a new kelp forest habitat as part of Shedd’s Experience Evolution Changing Oceans exhibit. Weedy seadragons are found in shallow coastal waters among kelp forests, seaweed beds and rocky reefs of southern and western Australia. The species is listed as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. For more information, visit www.sheddaquarium.org

Photo Credit: ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez