Thinking of Rearing Seahorses in your Home Aquarium?

A recent report revealed that local scientists have successfully developed the technology for breeding seahorses in hatcheries. This is good news for conservationists, who are working hard to ensure this mildly endangered species of fish survives into the future.

Seahorses are widely sold as aquarium pets throughout the world, and sought after for medicinal purpose, especially in the East.

Hobbyists are often enchanted by these unusual, graceful and majestic-looking fish, and buy them for their aquarium. However, wild seahorses are very difficult to keep because they only eat live food like brine shrimp, and are prone to disease in a contained environment. They often do not survive more that a week in captivity without proper care.

Stocks of seahorses in the wild can be boosted if a hardier farmed variety is made available.

What You Need to Know about Seahorses?

Natural Habitat: In addition to direct human exploitation, seahorse’s habitat is also being threatened.

Seahorses live in sheltered areas like sea grass beds, mangroves and coral reefs, which can be destroyed trawling, dredging, pollution or intense storms. Storms are probably the biggest natural cause of death because they tear the seahorses from their supports, casting them ashore or causing them to die from exhaustion.

Characteristics: About 35 different species of seahorses can be found in temperature and tropical coastal waters throughout the world. Dwarf species measure about one inch in length, while giant ones can be as long as 14 inches.

Seahorses have elongated bodies comprising rectangular bony plates with a series of spines and a curled tail, which they use to wrap around supports like plants or corals.

They have no pelvic fins but most have small pectoral fins and a single dorsal fin, small gill openings and a tubular snout. Like chameleons, they can camouflage themselves by changing color to blend with their surroundings.

The maximum life expectancy of seahorses living in the wild is about four years (depending on the species). Sexual maturity occurs when they are about six months old.

Behavior: Seahorses swim upright with their tails down and their heads up. They feed by employing a sit-and-wait strategy, remaining stationary and snapping up prey that comes near their snout-like mouths. They feed on small fish and crustaceans, brine shrimp and larvae, and swallow their food whole as they have no teeth.

Reproduction: Seahorses are monogamous. They also change color while mating, either by lightening or by darkening their skin. During the mating period, they engage in a lengthy courtship.

Interestingly, it is the male seahorse that becomes “pregnant.” The female deposits its eggs in the male’s brood pouch, where they are fertilized and incubated until they hatch. Each “pregnancy” lasts about two to three weeks—this varies with species and water temperature.

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