So, today I want to talk about seahorses. We did have a few in our aquarium, but I believe there was a nasty incident involving a filter, and sadly, they are no longer with us. But, as a young girl I was in love with seahorses! I though they were so cute and I wanted one awfully bad. However, I was never granted my wish, much to my dismay.
Seahorses are actually quite interesting when kept in captivity. Though they do take special care and some work, it will no doubt be worth it to most owners. Seahorses should be fed several small meals every day. Mysid shrimp, daphnia, grassy shrimp, and fish fry are all acceptable foods. Most experts recommend purchasing captive bred seahorses, because they are easier to feed and less picky about what they’re eating.
Captive bred seahorses also have a longer life span than those captured in the wild. With proper care, seahorses can live up to six years, an exceedingly long time. However, caring for a pack of seahorses isn’t easy. They require an aquarium with pristine water quality and virtually no temperature change. It isn’t easy to raise seahorses in community or reef environments, so it’s recommended that they have their own tank. The best aquariums for seahorses are taller structures with plenty of areas for the horses to “hitch.” This could include fake plants, branching coral, rope, and some types of algae. Interestingly seahorse will adopt the colors of their surroundings, so if you want a brightly colored seahorse, simply place some neon colored plants in your aquarium.
Another benefit of owning seahorses is that once you’ve purchased one brood, you’re set for a while, barring any unfortunate incidents. This is because seahorses are very apt to breed in captivity. If a seahorse can find a mate (they are monogamous creatures) you can expect a brood of small seahorses within a month. More than 200 fry can be born at a time. It is recommended that you move these small fries to their own tank where they can grow a bit before reintroducing them to a larger tank environment.
Do you own seahorses? Do you have any good stories or advice for those out there who are thinking of adding them to their aquarium? Let us know by posting a comment!