Seahorses

Seahorses

Seahorses are known so due to their equine look i.e. their horse-like head. Belonging to Syngnathidae Family, Seahorses are unlike other fish. Fresh Marine, an online retailer of aquarium products, currently offers two fascinating species of Seahorses to grace your aquarium. However, before we look at them, let us learn a little more about Seahorses.

Compatibility. Seahorses are Reef compatible, non-aggressive, and can happily coexist in a tank with Shrimps and other bottom feeding fish. However, Seahorses are slow feeders and should not be kept with belligerent feeders such as Eel, Triggerfish, Squid, Sea Anemone, and Octopus as it might lead to their death due to starvation.

Morphology. Seahorses have a Horse shaped Head, a Body, Elongated Snout, and a Prehensile Tail. Unlike other fish, they do not have Scales, but have Bony Rings arranged all over their body. They come in various colors such as, Yellow, Black, Gray, Brown, & Red, and can change colors to disguise themselves. They can grow up to 30cm in length. There are over 32 species of Seahorses all over the world.

Habitat. Seahorses are found in shallow Temperate and Tropical waters throughout the world. They choose to live in Sea Grasses, Coral Reefs, and Mangroves, using their tails to hang on to Plants, Corals, or Sponges.

Aquarium Feeding. Seahorses generally live on live food such as, Live Brine, Mysis Shrimp, Daphnia Guppies, Grass Shrimp, Mosquito, Larva, and Live Feeder Shrimp. However, Seahorses bred in captivity, which are generally bought for keeping as pets, can easily survive on pre-packaged Frozen Shrimp.

Seahorses for Aquarium. It is best to buy a Seahorse, which has been bred in captivity, rather than the one caught in the wild. The Seahorses caught in the wild do not acclimatize easily and are more prone to diseases.

Ideal Aquarium Environment. Seahorses need a tank with more height as they swim and mate vertically. They should be kept in a tank with sufficient Biological Filtration, constant temperature in the range of 72 to 78 Degrees Fahrenheit, the pH of 8.1-8.4, a Specific Gravity of 1.020-1.025, no Ammonia & Nitrite, and a medium quantity of Nitrate. Seahorses are not easy to maintain and require great care.

Reproduction. Seahorses are Monogamous and Male Seahorses give birth to and care for the babies.

Care. Seahorses are difficult to maintain and require an Expert’s handling.

Let us now look at the species of Seahorses, available at Fresh Marine.

Erectus Seahorse (Hippocampus erectus). Biologically known as Erectus Colored Seahorse and Lined Seahorse, these Seahorses can be easily distinguished from the others by a pattern of dark lines on its light colored body. The males have an incubation compartment similar to a kangaroo’s pouch. They usually grow up to 5 inches, are saltwater creatures, and live on live food such as, Brine Shrimp. These Seahorses are weak swimmers and need a tank of minimum thirty gallons with a little alkaline water.

Kuda Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda). Also known as Kuda Colored Seahorse, they are comparatively large, growing up to 12 inches in size. They are inhabitant of Sea Grasses in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. They come in Black, Yellow, and Orange colors with large spots. They have a deep Head, a smooth Body with slight Spines, and a strong Snout. They can camouflage easily. They feed on a diet of Shrimps, Larvae, and Mosquitoes. Kuda Seahorses require a large tank with slightly alkaline water.

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