Slender Seahorse 7cm

Slender Seahorse

The Slender Seahorse is a brightly coloured, beautiful member of the Syngnathidae family. Males are usually orange and females yellow, although this can vary. Their bodies often have coverings of white or brown spots. This species can change its colour to match its surroundings. Spots may also turn pink or white when courting.

It is possible to breed Slender Seahorses in captivity. When the courtship period starts the male Slender Seahorse will attract the female. He uses vibrant colour changes, dancing, and pouch displays. If the male is successful, the pair will entwine tails and dance. The female will then deposit up to 600 eggs in the male pouch. After 2 weeks the male gives birth, producing up to 400 offspring.

They are native to countries in South America, the Caribbean, and its surrounding area. This includes the southern USA, around Florida & North Carolina, Bermuda, Bahamas, Venezuela, and Brazil. They usually inhabit reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and sargassum, to a depth of 55 meters.

Tank Recommendations for your Slender Seahorse

Tank size should be at least 30 gallons (113 liters) in capacity per adult pair.

Seahorses are best suited to a species-only tank with good circulation. They prefer tall aquariums, at least 16 inches high, or 3-4 times the height of an adult seahorse. There should be plenty of ornaments or decorations for them to wrap their tails around. This allows them to rest between feeding. Ideal hitching points include dead coral, fake plants, and mangroves.

They are not strong swimmers, so a weak water flow is most suitable for them. Ideally, keep a few areas of very low water flow where they can rest. Lighting should be low and operate a standard 12 on, 12 off routine. Strong lighting can cause seahorse stress. It's important that water in a seahorse tank stays clean. Use a filter that maintains a low flow rate. A protein skimmer is also recommended.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Seahorses have a peaceful temperament. They can co-habit with a selection of small docile fish but a species-only tank is preferable.

Usually Compatible

Conspecifics, either as a mated pair or in a small group are the most suitable tank buddies.

Sometime Compatible

Dartfish, Gobies, and Jawfish will need monitoring. Small invertebrates may be suitable, but care should be taken with larger species.

Rarely Compatible

Avoid fish that will cause Seahorse stress, outcompete it for food, or eat it. This covers a wide range of aquarium fish, from Blennies and Clownfish to Groupers and Eels. Most species are not suitable to co-habit with Seahorses.

Feeding Slender Seahorse

Slender Seahorses are carnivorous. They do not have teeth, instead, they use their snout to consume small prey whole. In an aquarium setup, food should be offered slowly. This will allow the seahorse to consume it before the filter extracts it. They will eat live and frozen food. A suitable diet should include live shrimp, copepods, and rotifers. Frozen vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, Mysis shrimp, plankton, and krill are also recommended. Feed at least two times per day.