Roundup of Seahorse Facts

By Scuba Diver Life

Always a treasure to find, seahorses are unique fish in many ways.

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  Hard to Identify

  We think there are about 50 different species, but it's hard to tell. They're so adept at camouflage,  species identification can be difficult.  When stressed, seahorses will change color to blend into their surroundings.  Of course, they also do it to ambush prey.

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  Slow Moving

  Unlike other fish, seahorses swim vertically using their dorsal fin for propulsion and pectoral fins to steer. This manner of swimming means they're slow and easily exhausted.  The dwarf seahorse has top speed of a whopping 5 ft per hour.

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  Pregnant Males

  Mating courtship can go on for days and ends when the female ejects her eggs into the male's pouch.  After the male fertilizes them, he carries them to term and delivers anywhere from a dozen to thousands of baby seahorses. Less than 1% of those will become adults.

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  Not Always Monogamous

  They don’t mate for life, but they will often stay with the same mate during the breeding season.  During the 2-4 week gestation, the female will visit the male daily, and they perform a short dance together each morning. 

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  They Like to Hang Around

  They're the only fish that can - and will - hold your hand. They wrap their tails around seagrass or coral to rest, eat, or just keep secure in a current.  Though it's hard to imagine, they also use them to fight one another.  But, never for swimming.

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  They Have a Crown

  We have fingerprints, they have crowns of small appendages that form what's known as a coronet. Each one is unique to the individual and can be used for identification.  

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  They’re Loud

  Every time they eat - which is frequently - they make a clicking sound.  They also make a similar sound during courtship, mating, fighting, or other interactions with their seahorse buddies.

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  Can See Far and Wide

  They have extremely good vision and their eyes move independent of one another, allowing them to see in front and behind themselves simultaneously.  

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  Big Eaters

  They have no teeth and no stomachs, and need to eat nearly constantly to stay alive. Daily, they eat thousands of brine shrimp, plankton, and other tiny food.

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  Most Are Small

  The largest seahorse is only 12 inches in length, and the smallest is a mere half and inch. It's quite a feat to locate the tiny ones, so good luck!