Common Seahorse
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
WIld-caught seahorses are endangered and on everyone's "do not buy list." Scott W. Michael
Overview
The keeping of seahorses is in the midst of a radical transition. In the past, seahorses were all harvested from the wild and had a terrible reputation for not surviving long in their owners' bowls and tanks.
Wild-caught seahorses rarely eat anything but live foods, and many seahorse species are endangered, or close to it, overcollected for the Asian folk-medicine trade. Wild-caught seahorses have been under CITES II protection as being on the threshold of becoming endangered of extinction.
The successful captive breeding of a number of seahorse species has changed all that. Excellent aquacultured or captive bred (CB) seahorses are now widely available.
Family: Syngnathidae
Other common name(s):
- Spotted Seahorse
Native range:
Habitat: Relatively protected inshore areas, seagrass beds.
Maximum height: 30 cm (12 in)
Minimum aquarium size: 114 L (30 gal)
Water: Marine 24 °C (75 °F) - 28 °C (82 °F)
General swimming level: Near substrate.
Feeding
The staple food for captive seahorses today is mysid shrimp. Breeders cultivate and feed live mysids, but captive-bred seahorses should accept high-quality frozen and thawed Mysis sp. shrimp. Live, adult brine shrimp enriched with a vitamin and HUFA (Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acid) supplement such as Selcon or Vibrance) make for a welcome change of diet.
Aquarium Compatibility
Keep seahorses alone, in an aquarium dedicated to their care and culture.
Breeding/Propagation
Seahorses are eminently reproducible in captivity. See "The Breeder's Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes, by Matthew Wittenrich.
Notes
The informed aquarist will buy only captive-bred specimens, which will be more likely to thrive, and will keep them in their own species tank.