Common Seahorse
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
WIld-caught seahorses are endangered and on everyone's "do not buy list." Scott W. Michael
[edit] 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 (297 K, 75 °F) - 28 °C (301 K, 82 °F)
General swimming level: Near substrate.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Aquarium Compatibility
Keep seahorses alone, in an aquarium dedicated to their care and culture.
[edit] Breeding/Propagation
Seahorses are eminently reproducible in captivity. See "The Breeder's Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes, by Matthew Wittenrich.
[edit] 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.
| Common name | Common Seahorse +, and Spotted Seahorse + |
| Family | Syngnathidae + |
| Genus | Hippocampus + |
| Image credit | SWM + |
| Maximum height | 12 in + |
| Minimum aquarium size | 30 gal + |
| Native range | Indo-Pacific +, Hawaii +, Pakistan +, India +, Japan +, and Society Islands + |
| Reference | A PocketExpert Guide to Reef Aquarium Fishes + |
| Specific name | kuda + |
| Swimming level | Near substrate. + |
| Text credit | SWM + |
| Water max temp | 301 K (28 °C, 82 °F) + |
| Water min temp | 297 K (24 °C, 75 °F) + |
| Water type | Marine + |