How to Buy Seahorses

Seahorses can be a great addition to any aquarium. However, they are very delicate and require some knowledge about their care. There are two kinds of seahorses that can be purchased: wild bred or captive bred. Captive bred seahorses tend to be easier to maintain as they are more used to captive food sources.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Visit several pet stores who deal in tropical fish and compare the sea horses they offer. Look for sea horses that are swimming well and ask to see the sea horses eat. If they appear to have any signs of disease, don't buy them.

2. Purchase a supply of brine shrimp enriched with highly unsaturated fatty acid emulsion. Seahorses will starve to death if they are fed on unenriched brine. They also do not eat flaked or pellet food.

3. Look for captive bred sea horses that are priced between $40 to $90 dollars. This price range ensures the sea horses you are purchasing are captive bred.

4. Buy at least two horses. Sea horses are social animals and need interaction with other sea horses.

5. Consider making sea horses the only marine life in your tank. Mixing sea horses with other fish can make it difficult to keep them alive.

6. Use at least a 20 gallon tank for a pair of medium sized sea horses. Prepare your tank ahead of time to receive sea horses. Cycle tank water at least 8 weeks before introducing sea horse to prevent ammonia poisoning.

7. Quarantine captive bred seahorses for at least three weeks before adding to the tank. Wild bred should be quarantined for 6 weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit www.seahorses.org for great information about the care and keeping of sea horses. Gather as much information as possible before trying to work with this amazing creature.