Description
Lined Seahorse (Hippocampus erectus)
Seahorses are beautiful and fascinating fishes; in this regard, the lined variety is no exception. One of the easiest of its kind to keep in captivity, the species has for long been popular with seahorse enthusiasts. Captive-bred specimens are available and are even more easily maintained in aquaria. That notwithstanding, seahorses are rather specialized creatures and should be housed in a species tank. See below for more information.
Size and Care Requirements:
- Purchase Size: ~4″ (height)
- Max Size: approximately 7″ (height)
- Water Parameters: ~75° F, dKH 8-12, pH 7.8-8.4, sg 1.020-1.023
- Color: Highly variable
- Reef-Safe: Yes (this animal is best kept in a species tank)
- Feeding: Mysis, brine shrimp, copepods (preferably live)
Lined Seahorse Species Information
The lined (or northern) seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) is distributed across the U.S. Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico but may be encountered as far north as Nova Scotia or as far south as Brazil. These seahorses inhabit different water depths during different seasons (shallow waters in the summer and deeper waters (up to 73 meters) during the winter.
Weak swimmers, lined seahorses prefer calm, sheltered waters such as bays. They are capable of swimming in midwaters but spend a great of time holding onto gorgonians or seagrass blades with their prehensile tails.
Benefits of Aquacultured Seahorses
Aquacultured seahorses offer a huge advantage over wild-caught specimens. For example, if bred and raised under captive conditions, they are better adapted to aquarium life. They are also less likely to carry disease. Even more, aquacultured specimens can better tolerate shipping stress. Most significantly, by purchasing captive-bred livestock you support the aquaculture of marine organisms and help to make our hobby more sustainable!
100% Alive on Arrival (AoA) Guarantee
We guarantee that every lined seahorse we sell will be Alive On Arrival and in good health. Should it arrive in any other state, we will either replace it free of charge (including shipping) or issue store credit if the total livestock loss is less than $40. For more information, please also visit our 100% Alive On Arrival Guarantee page.
