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THE MAGICAL GRACE OF THE SEAHORSE
Seahorses have been around for millions of years and combine the appearance of several animals; the head of a horse, prehensile tail like that of a monkey and insect-like external skeleton. Seahorses roll their eyes like a lizard and carry their young in a pouch like marsupials, yet they are fish - though they don’t look or act like them. The seahorse is a very unique creature, thought to have mystical significance among the Ancient Greeks, Asians and European Alchemists. A relatively calm, mild-mannered creature, the seahorse is seemingly content to roam the seas. Their bodies are geared more for drifting and less for speed. Thus, they are symbolic of patience and contentment. They are happy with being where they are and are in no hurry for advancement. Seahorses are the only species in the animal kingdom in which males become pregnant. A female seahorse will insert an ovipositor into the male’s brood pouch where her eggs are deposited, which males then fertilize. The fertilized eggs then embed in the pouch wall and become enveloped with bodily tissue. Males release sperm into the surrounding sea water during fertilization. Two to three weeks later, baby seahorses are hatched. Most seahorse species are monogamous with the exception of a few. In monogamous pairs, the male and female Seahorses ”court” one and other at dawn and dusk to secure their bond but remain separate from each other while hunting for food. Now if we could just turn seahorses into men! The Ancient Greeks and Romans believed the seahorse was an attribute of the sea God Neptune and as such the seahorse was considered a symbol of strength and power. Some ancient Europeans believed that seahorses carried the souls of deceased sailors to the underworld, giving them protection and safe passage as their souls journeyed to their destination.
If you decide to own and care for a pet seahorse, be sure to only one bred in captivity. Seahorses collected from the wild do not do well in home aquariums. They will eat only live foods such as brine shrimp and are prone to stress in aquarium environments, which lowers the efficiency of their immune systems, making them susceptible to disease. In recent years, captive breeding of seahorses has become increasingly widespread. These seahorses survive better in captivity and are less likely to carry diseases. Captive seahorses usually feed on Mysid shrimp and unlike seahorses that are extracted from the wild; they do not experience the shock and stress of being taken out of their natural environment and placed in the foreign environment of an aquarium. Although captive-bred seahorses are more expensive, they survive better than wild seahorses and take no toll on wild populations. Seahorses can co-exist with many species of shrimp and other bottom-feeding creatures. Fish from the goby family also make good tank-mates. Some species are especially dangerous to the slow-moving seahorses and should be avoided completely such as eels, tangs, triggerfish, squid, octopus and sea anemones. Seahorses should be kept in an aquarium to themselves or with compatible tank-mates. Seahorses are slow feeders so in an aquarium with fast, aggressive feeders, seahorses will be edged out in the competition for food. Special care should be given to ensure that all tank inhabitants obtain enough food at feeding times, so in the very best interest of your pet seahorse, provide it with a proper, safe environment. Some species of seahorses live only 2 years while others have been reported to live as long as 4 - 5 years. Some species mature at three months of age while others reach adulthood at around six months of age. And we know that some smaller species, like the dwarf seahorse, have been reported to live only one to two years. These small seahorses mature to adulthood within three months after birth, while the longer-lived animals will take six months to one year to reach adulthood.
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Seahorses
are becoming one of the most popular house pets because of their fascinating habits, unusual appearance and ease of care. They are one of the most fascinating, interesting and unique of all creatures in the animal kingdom.
Chinese cultures believed that the seahorse was a type of sea dragon and therefore revered them for their power. Sailors, like the Chinese have long viewed the seahorse as a good luck symbol.