All fish / Syngnathidae

Lined Seahorse

Hippocampus erectus

Also known as lined seahorse, northern seahorse, spotted seahorse, erectus seahorse, atlantic seahorse, erectus, ม้าน้ำ, kuda laut, ラインドシーホース, 线纹海马, 直立海马

This is a fairly large seahorse that grips objects with its tail. Its colour ranges from yellow and orange to brown or black, often with fine white lines on the neck. Captive-bred fish take frozen foods readily, so it is one of the most popular seahorses for home tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

14 cm

Temperature

20 to 25 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

A pair, or several in a species tank (about 110 litres for the first pair)

Diet

Carnivore: frozen mysis shrimp enriched with vitamins, live shrimp and amphipods, fed two or three times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Atlantic, from Nova Scotia to Venezuela, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean

Breeding

The female lays her eggs in the male's brood pouch. After about two to four weeks he gives birth to hundreds of tiny fry. Adults breed readily in captivity, but rearing the fry is hard because they need live foods such as rotifers and newly hatched Artemia.

Good to know

Hippocampus erectus is listed on CITES Appendix II and as Vulnerable by the IUCN, so buy captive-bred stock. Keep it only with slow, peaceful tankmates, avoid stinging corals and anemones, and watch for bacterial infections in warm water.