Seahorses are a fun addition to any aquarium and rank high on the list of favorites for many hobbyists. While they are a valued addition to any salt water aquarium, special care must be taken to ensure the health of your seahorse.
Seahorses have a poor digestive system; in fact they have no stomach, and must eat almost constantly to stay alive. Because of their small size and lack of teeth, they require a particular diet consisting of several types of miniature crustaceans and live copepods. They are also known to be picky eaters and prefer a constant food source. Once a seahorse in introduced into a saltwater aquarium, it can become a true test of devotion to keep the creature alive.
Live Seahorse Food is available. First, there is the option of dead frozen Mysis. This option is quick and easy, but depending on how the seahorse was raised (captive bred, or tank raised) your seahorse might not like this source. The dead food may take time to become appetizing, and since they need to eat between 30-50 times a day, starvation can become an issue if your seahorse doesn’t like the food.
A second, better option is live seahorse food. You can buy live phytoplankton and copepods to feed your seahorse. Live food most closely mimics their natural eating environment and it is easier to get your seahorse to eat live pods than frozen food. By using live food, the seahorse instinctively hunts for its meal like it would in the wild. Also, by using live plankton and crustaceans an ecosystem is formed, creating a sustainable aquarium. Even the best seahorse eaters can’t eat all the food, which allows the lifeforms to hide, establish a presence and reproduce. Using live food becomes a perpetual feeding cycle for the seahorse. The outcome for the seahorse is a happier fish with fresh food and a closer to normal environment. For the seahorse owner, the fear of your seahorse eating enough is erased, leaving you to enjoy your aquarium.
Switching to live seahorse food saves a lot of headaches. With regular supplements of additional live organisms the food chain remains constant and the seahorse remains healthy. With a little planning and preparation, your seahorse will be a fun, healthy, low stress addition to your aquarium.
Anthony says
Always wanted to do a seahorse tank!
Stefan Bladen says
That makes it sound so easy
robert vice says
I would assume if you digestive system was horrible I would want live food in the tank especially if they eat 50 times a day
David says
Wow. Didn’t know seahorses needed to eat so often.
Jon Dimitri Andrianos says
Same
esear14 says
phenomenal
Tony Mutti says
Nice treat for them and something for them to chase between feedings, but if you get tank raised sea horses there is more nutrition in frozen.
Josh hiltabiddle says
I want seahorses someday
devon says
I like seahorses
Terrence Harrison says
Love algae barn!!
Martin Gundel says
My wife wants a sea horse tank…..nice reading for her.
artaa1988 says
nice treat , cant wait to try a seahorse tank myself
Noah says
?
Mohamad says
I love seahorse
James says
I have always thought that seahorses could only have live food anyways.
Allen Fagard says
Seahorses are so finicky as it is, you have to have to correct food.
Carl Brown says
Would love to have a seahorse tank.
mikerosa1965 says
some great seahorse info, thanks for posting this
Brooner says
I would love to put seahorses in my refugium, but I’ve always been intimidated.
Andy says
A seahorse tank is in my future.
Tiffanie says
Awww I want a couple.
Alex says
Nutrition is very important
Brandi says
My 3 dream aquariums are a giant tank, a nem tank and a seahorse tank.
Christopher Burns says
great info
Tara says
I always loved seahorses . I would love to have one
Hailey Weir says
[email protected]
Sean Simkins says
Interesting
professorcanswanky says
Amazing source of info
ANDREW WELSH says
Pods make so much sense here: constantly eating animal with a constantly reproducing live food source.
Ross Bennett says
Maybe I’ll have a sea horse tank next
Doug Smith says
no brainer here. live food is always a better option.
darksorcerer0530 says
I used to have a dwarf seahorse tank. Live feed always seemed like the best option for them.
Angela Revell says
Great info here
Marc Raupp says
maybe i should try seahorses. They don’t sound as hard as they once did with great options like Algae Barn to keep them fed.
Juan Gonzalez says
Would love a seahorse and now Know its demand
Anthony Ferrelli says
Keep them galloping
jeffreyfelter says
Great read
Michael Kessler says
One day I’ll own a seahorse
Andrew Bilodeau says
Never knew this!
kalihankerd says
Good read
Savoury Kem says
Whoa
Deborah Najm says
Seahorses are beautiful! You want to feed them right.
Tim Jones says
Dont have any but they would be cool to have one day
Ricardo Munoz says
Very cool
erik says
Ive always wanted a seahorse or two, maybe 7
Gino says
Too cute
James says
Makes sense
garethb9 says
Great information
Brent Cox says
My wife loves seahorses she will love this article.
Robert Paniagua says
Food is the most important to keep them healthy
Max Williquette says
My most recent copepod order from AlgeaBarn was for my new seahorse tank! My seahorses are loving them!
brent says
😀
Tom Giddens says
easier to feed
John key says
Good info! I didn’t realized seahorses needed to eat so often. I’ve not kept them yet 🙂
Kristoffer Hamann says
Everythings better fresh
danieoue says
Looking hard to keep seahorse
danieoue says
It look Lui a hard To jeep seahorse
danieoue says
Hum seahorse
danieoue says
Hum seahorse
danieoue says
Dehors!!!!!
Sean Beaver says
I need a seahorse tank.
Itzel says
I want a seahorse
blk250r says
Love the action of them. So beautiful! Didn’t know they needed to eat so much
Ellen S Imbrie says
someday
Kristopher Kasarda says
Seahorses are awesome creatures!
Derek says
Now I just need some seahorses 🙂
chrissyhexd says
Sweet! Love the artical!
Justin says
Good I fo
Jeremy Hunsberger says
Sweet
Bennett Sheppard says
I’m so glad this blog exists! My wife wants a seahorse tank and this information will be critical in their success.
William Schimmel says
Great information
btack206 says
I know it isn’t exactly a seahorse, but our pipefish took to the frozen copepods almost immediately and they hung around for a while so we didn’t have to worry about overfeeding!
btack206 says
I know it isn’t exactly a seahorse, but our pipefish took to the frozen copepods almost immediately and they hung around for a while so we didn’t have to worry about overfeeding!
Paul R Cote says
Awsome article
Ryan M. Vaughan says
Great info
Branden Hess says
Love these. Are basically a must have for your tank.
Max says
Good info?
stoph70 says
Seahorses are an annoying amount of work – especially if you’re planning on leaving town.
ian m mahoney says
Would love to own Seahorses someday, amazing animals.
glenzemke says
I plan to one day have a seahorse tank!
Frank says
It’s not just for seahorse’s
Logan Kreider says
Good read
Kyle Frame says
I just ordered 4 seahorses for my tank. Impatiently waiting their arrival lol.
Nicholas says
Good info
zadok jollie says
After reading this I’m even more tempted to start a seahorse tank
Jose Pacheco says
I think seahorses are not for me
Dylan says
Cool read
Ricardo Munoz says
I don’t have seahorses but nonetheless very informative info. Good luck to all seahorse keepers out there!
Lisa says
Planning my first seahorse tank now. Great info.
castrommaritza says
Awesome read. Seahorses are high maintenance so knowing my OCD I rather not have them lol I will be worried most of the time for its health
castrommaritza says
Awesome read. They are hog maintenance so i rather not because with my OCD I would be worried all the time and that Is haha