Pacific seahorses are nocturnal and known to inhabit a variety of sub-tidal habitats to a maximum depth of 60 metres (200 ft).

The presence of Hippocampus ingens at this new location could be due to the fact that its population is vulnerable as well as long distance dispersal methods, which other seahorse species have recently been doing.

At the end of the fourteen day gestation period, the male goes into labor and must force the young out of the pouch one at a time, which sometimes takes hours.

Furthermore, the species has enough enzymes to digest its major nutrients, including those to account for the higher than average lipid requirements.

The histological structure of their intestine is similar to that of seahorse species that also lack a stomach (agastric teleosts) such as the H. abdomnialis and the H. guttulatus.

Mexico and Peru are the largest exporter of pacific seahorses, selling more than 1 dry ton annually.

[4] Chinese medicine is one of the main risks to the Hippocampus ingens species, thereby making them one of the most vulnerable fish populations in the world.

Hippocampus ingens account for the majority of species identified in Chinese medicinal markets around the world in places such as San Francisco's Chinatown.

[7] This species specifically is favorable for this industry due to its large size (compared to other seahorses) and smooth texture.

Powdered forms of these seahorses are very profitable and thus those who partake in these illegal activities are always finding new ways to conduct their methods.

For instance, seahorse powder is not particularly hard to get through customs in many places, for it can be easily disguised as something legal such as plant extract or other substances.

Nonetheless, illegal activity involving the species still continued and confiscation rates were around the same as before the ban was put into place.

If a protocol was constructed to determine identify the powdered substance, then it would be much easier for law officials to track the criminal activity being done and hold those accountable.

[9] Additionally, scientists and researchers are searching for new and innovative ways to combat exploitation of Hippocampus ingens and increase the size of their populations.

They enriched their diet with different foods in the first months of the Hippocampus ingens' life and saw a significant effect on the seahorses' survival.