Scientific Name : Hippocampus erectus

Origin : Atlantic

Difficulty : Intermediate

Minimum Tank Size :30 gallons

Temperament : Peaceful

Temperature : 65F - 74F

Reef Safe : No - reef aquarium not suitable environment

Maximum Size : 6 inches

Diet :Carnivore - See Feeding Requirements.

Hippocampus erectus, the lined seahorse or northern seahorse, is probably one of the hardiest of all seahorses available to aquarists. It is fairy disease resistant, active and eats most things offered to it without much hesitation.

Commonly brown in coloration, it can change colors and those colors can range from yellow to green to white, red or orange.

Seahorses only eat small crustaceans and the occasional small fish in the wild. In captivity, they can be trained to eat frozen food, and most aquarists use frozen mysis as a staple. Captive bred seahorses come trained on frozen foods already.

Variety is important for seahorse health, and the lined seahorse is probably the most boisterous eater, so other foods can be offered successfully. Small krill and ghost shrimp can be offered. Some have been known to eat shredded fish or squid.

Adult seahorses should be fed at least twice a day. Younger seahorses may need to be feed 3 - 4 times a day. Seahorses can not survive long without food, and should be left no more than a day without feeding. If going on vacation, arrangements for their care will need to be taken.

A 30 gallon aquarium is the minimum tank size for a pair of lined seahorses. Seahorses need an aquarium set up special to their needs. This means an aquarium with moderate but not too fast flow, intakes protected, and gentle tankmates that won't harm a seahorse.

A seahorse aquarium should have live rock, but about half as much as a normal reef aquarium to give the seahorses space to move around. You'll also need to offer hitching posts for the seahorses. This can include artificial corals, non-stinging live corals such as leathers and gorgonians, and branch live rock, like tonga branch rock.

Seahorses are messy eaters and need to have a good filter along with regular water changes to keep the aquarium in good shape.