Frequently Asked Questions

Are seahorses fish?
Yes, seahorses are a true bony fish (just like a tuna, salmon or trout), they possess gills, a skeleton made of bony plates and have fins to propel them. They belong to a family of fish called Syngnathidae (from the Greek, meaning "fused jaws"). This family also includes pipefish, pipe horses, and sea dragons. It is unknown how many species of seahorse exist.

Where do seahorses live?
Seahorses can be found in the seas as far north as Norway and as far south as Tasmania and New Zealand. Seahorses are a marine (salt water) fish that tend to inhabit coastal areas, bays and estuaries.

What do seahorses eat?
Seahorses eat tiny zooplankton such as brine shrimp (Artemia), mysid shrimp and amphipods.

Is it true that the males give birth?
Yes, seahorse reproduction is truly amazing! The female produces the eggs and deposits them either in the male brood pouch or on the underside of the male tail. The eggs are incubated for up to 6 six weeks. Male seahorses thrust their tails, forcibly ejecting the tiny fry. Fry are perfectly formed miniature seahorses.

Can you keep seahorses in captivity?
Yes, farmed seahorses can be purchased from most pet stores. You must choose the species of seahorse you keep very carefully. Seahorses require clean filtered saltwater at the right temperature and either live food or high quality frozen food. Companion fish for seahorses also need to be chosen carefully as seahorses rely only on their camouflage to hide from predators, seahorses will be attacked by any aggressive companions. Seahorse World recommends prospective seahorse owners thoroughly research seahorses before "taking the plunge".

Why choose farmed seahorses?
Purchasing farmed seahorses is a more environmentally sound decision, in many parts of the world over-fishing and pollution have decimated seahorse populations. Farmed seahorses tend to be less prone to stress and its associated diseases as they are used to being in captivity. Seahorses taken from the wild are likely to be difficult to feed as they will expect live food.

What do people use seahorses for?
Seahorses are used as pets and curios in many parts of the world. Many seahorses are also used in the Traditional Chinese Medicine trade, where dried seahorses are believed to be a tonic and aphrodisiac.

Does Seahorse World sell seahorses?
No. Seahorse World is a public aquarium dedicated to the preservation and conservation of seahorses. The seahorses produced at Seahorse World are used for solely educational and research purposes. Visit Seahorse Australia for the purchase of seahorses.