Lined Seahorse

The Lined Seahorse is one of the most widely available seahorse species in the marine aquarium trade, particularly as captive-bred specimens that are far hardier and easier to maintain than their wild-caught counterparts. This species displays a wide range of color variations including black, brown, yellow, orange, red, and even lavender, with the ability to change color gradually over weeks to match their environment. Their horse-like head, prehensile tail, and upright swimming posture make them among the most recognizable marine animals.

Keeping seahorses requires a fundamentally different approach from standard marine fishkeeping. Lined Seahorses are slow, deliberate feeders that cannot compete with typical reef fish for food. They require a species-specific aquarium or a tank with only the most docile, non-competitive tankmates. Water flow must be gentle, as seahorses are weak swimmers that can become exhausted in strong currents. Hitching posts such as gorgonians, macroalgae, and artificial decorations are essential.

Feeding is the greatest challenge in seahorse keeping. Captive-bred Lined Seahorses have been trained to accept frozen mysis shrimp, which is their primary staple food in captivity. They must be fed two to three times daily with enriched frozen mysis. Wild-caught specimens may only accept live foods initially and are far more challenging to maintain. A mature, stable aquarium with excellent water quality is essential, as seahorses are susceptible to bacterial infections and gas bubble disease in suboptimal conditions.