Description
Lined Seahorse, Hippocampus erectus. These sell by such names as “lined seahorse” and “black giant seahorse”. They can reach a total length of about 8 inches, but the ones we sell start at 2.5 inches length but they can be smaller when we sell them. They can be male or females but we will sell them as we have them available
These are wild caught seahorses and although they have been kept in a medicated system for about two weeks, it’s always a good idea for you to quarantine them for another two weeks prior to adding them to an established system. Seahorses require live foods such as enriched live adult brine shrimp, live mysis shrimp, live grass shrimp, or any other small live fish or shrimp. We try to get them started on eating frozen mysis shrimp. If you have trouble getting them to eat the frozen mysis shrimp, try feeding them enriched live adult brine shrimp or grass shrimp for a few days and then try weaning them off the live food and onto the frozen food. They will not thrive on just live brine shrimp and will eventually waste away unless you are enriching the shrimp right before you feed them to the horses.
Seahorses are reef safe to a point. They generally will not bother other fish or invertebrates, but may go after very small fish or small shrimp. They are not aggressive feeders, so they require extra care in a tank that has active fish (most people would not recommend mixing them with fish because they are such passive feeders.) Seahorses should not be put in tanks that have sea anemones, corals, or zoanthids because they can sting the horses and the anemones may even eat them. Mushroom and leather “corals” are OK, as are gorgonians.
Seahorses are not for the beginners because of their picky feeding requirements, so this shouldn’t be your first fish.
For more information about aquarium requirements, caring for and raising seahorses please visit http://www.seahorse.org a dedicated seahorse forum.
bichelle1971 –
I bought a few hippocampus erected from this site I had no problem with them from delivery to them being in my tank. They adapted well and ate frozen brine shrimp the first time offered.
m3woody3 (verified owner) –
Little disappointed. Ordered 3 seahorses. To go with two healthy I already had. One came with a bacterial infection, a infected spot on its side that is growing. The second was bloated with gas bubble disease. She couldn’t stay afloat constantly floating to surface. Only one seems healthy. None will eat except the healthy one. Despite me offering both live and frozen options of mysis, enriched brineshrimp, and pods. Checked my water is quality, kept flow low, and lighting to a minimum and they still have not improved. I dont have any medicine to treat them so disappointed I waisted my money.