Seahorse: the structure and habitat of the animal. Seahorse: reproduction, description, habitat, species features, life cycle, characteristics and features Seahorse breeding

05.12.2021

Before you get a seahorse, carefully read the basic rules for caring for them.

Often, aquarists are looking for some unusual animals for their small ecosystems. We like to complement our aquariums with animals with bright colors, unusual behavior, or bizarre body shapes. No animal fits this description better than seahorses. Seahorses are the owners of a truly mythical body shape: a horse-shaped head is surprisingly combined with a reinforced, curved body. These truly fantastic creatures are very interesting to watch, and if you properly prepare in advance, then keeping them in an aquarium is no more difficult than any other fish. Today I will try to dispel some of the myths about seahorses that are common among aquarists, as well as talk about the basic requirements for creating a suitable environment for seahorses so that even beginners have the opportunity to observe these amazingly beautiful animals at home.

Seahorses: Basic Information

Various types of seahorses are currently available to marine aquarists, and the requirements for their maintenance can vary significantly. Representatives of the most common species reach approximately the same size, from 12 to 20 cm in height. Therefore, let's first talk about the skates of this particular, "standard" size, in particular, about hippocampus erectus, H. reidi and H. barbouri.

Seahorses are at a lower evolutionary stage than most bony fishes; they have a number of specific characteristics that you need to know about before you start these animals. First, and most importantly, the gills of seahorses function less efficiently than those of bony fish. Gas exchange in seahorses is limited. In addition, seahorses lack a normal stomach. Food passes through their digestive system very quickly. Accordingly, in order to maintain their energy level, they need more food.

It is also worth remembering that seahorses do not have scales. The tissues that cover the exoskeleton resemble skin. It is for this reason that seahorses are more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections, and aquarists must be carefully monitored to ensure that no lesions appear on the body surface of seahorses.

The mouth of seahorses is also very different from the mouths of many other bony fish. The elongated muzzle in the form of a proboscis is adapted for suction of small prey at an unusually high speed. However, do not be mistaken about such a small mouth size. I have seen 10 cm seahorses attack and consume small shrimp larger than 1 cm. Remember: mint shrimp in an aquarium can be eaten!

"Stable"

If you do decide to get seahorses, you really would be better off setting up a new aquarium for them. There are too many factors to consider and too many limitations to put up with seahorses in an existing aquarium. Let's start by determining the size of your aquarium. Seahorses need vertical space – they make the most of it. In other words, the height of your aquarium is just as important as its area. Choose an aquarium whose height is at least 45 cm, the higher the aquarium, the better!

For my seahorses, I chose a 140 liter tall cubic aquarium. At the same time, the length and width of the aquarium is 48 x48 cm, and the height is 60 cm, so that the seahorses feel comfortable. If the filtration is organized correctly, such an aquarium is suitable for keeping three to four seahorses. By the way, seahorses don't like too much lighting used for standard reef tanks - this is a point to consider if you plan to put a couple of corals in a seahorse aquarium.

The temperature of the aquarium also needs to be controlled. Seahorses prefer cooler environments compared to regular tropical aquariums; to ensure maximum comfort for skates, the water in the aquarium should be slightly cooler. The water temperature of about 23-24.5 degrees Celsius will suit them perfectly. In most cases, a fan above the aquarium is enough, although if you live in a hot climate, you can use a cooling system.

Filtration

The topic of filtering is one of the most discussed in relation to any system; and aquariums with seahorses are no exception. For aquariums with skates, a quality hanging filter is suitable. Strong currents are not suitable for seahorses. They are relatively weak swimmers, so they will have to constantly contend with too much current in the filtration system. If you opt for a hanging filter, you will need a filter designed for larger aquariums than yours. As a consequence of the primitiveness of the digestive system, even a single seahorse is capable of producing a large amount of undigested food that passes directly through its digestive canal to be decomposed in the aquarium. Therefore, constant enhanced filtration is necessary.

Too weak current from an insufficiently powerful attached filter can also become a problem. With a weak current, the concentration of oxygen in the water will be lower. In this case, it will be very difficult for the primitive gills of seahorses to get enough oxygen from the environment; in an aquarium with an insufficient filtration system, seahorses can die from hypoxia. In addition, if the current is too weak, there is a possibility of “dead zones” or areas with very low oxygen concentrations.

A simple and elegant solution to the problem is a skimmer. The skimmer helps not only to reduce the nitrate content and collect excess organics, it helps to “ventilate” the water and increase the oxygen content in it. Simply put, a skimmer (even the simplest one) is an essential piece of equipment for a seahorse aquarium. Another option is to use a pump to create a moderate flow. The common belief that seahorses cannot withstand any current is a misconception; if necessary, a healthy specimen is able to withstand a fairly strong flow of water, but you should not create a strong current even for healthy individuals. It may be interesting to watch surfer skates riding in a stream of water or “flying” around an aquarium, however, such a current is not recommended for seahorses themselves. A small pump at the back or at the bottom of the aquarium will be enough to create a gentle current that can cover all the "dead zones" and not harm the seahorses.

Seahorses bred in captivity

Seahorses were once thought to be very difficult to keep in aquariums. And they were caught exclusively in the natural environment. Individuals caught in the natural environment did not survive in home aquariums for more than a few months - they died either from infection or from hunger. In recent years, there has been an obvious progress in the content of seahorses - artificially bred seahorses. Captive-bred seahorses outshine their "wild" counterparts in several ways. They are accustomed to ready-made frozen food, are hardier and are almost always healthy. An important point: since these skates are not caught from their natural habitat, we do not feel guilty for the decrease in their natural population.

Wednesday and Aquarium Neighbors

A seahorse aquarium is a little different than FOWLR (fish only with live rock) or reef systems; although the differences are insignificant. A common tip is that seahorses should be kept in single-species aquariums. And while I totally agree that keeping seahorses with other animals requires detailed planning, in principle there are many types of fish, invertebrates and corals that could coexist with seahorses. There are many sources for advice on planning seahorse aquariums, the best known being seahorse.org.

Fish

There are many types of slow, wary fish that make good seahorse companions. Synchiropus blennies, scorpionfish, some cardinal fish and Gramma kingfish are generally considered safe neighbors. Smaller types of gobies are also suitable.

The main characteristic that determines whether fish will make good neighbors for seahorses is their level of activity. Overly active fish will overwhelm the seahorses, taking not only food, but free space. And although fish help to diversify the aquarium with seahorses, I would recommend adding seahorses to the aquarium first, and only after some time add a couple of fish from the above list to the aquarium. Before adding new inhabitants to the aquarium, give the seahorses the opportunity to adapt to the new environment.

Invertebrates

Most snails are fine for seahorse aquariums; I would say they are even recommended. Small hermit crabs, in particular blue-footed hermit crabs, are quite suitable and will help to clear the aquarium of food debris. Other crabs are best kept away from the seahorse tank, as they are able to bite the tails of seahorses from time to time. The same goes for shrimp. Small shrimp may well become food for seahorses, while large specimens can outcompete seahorses for food. Anemones with their stinging cells have no place in a seahorse system.

corals

There is currently a heated debate about the possibility of keeping seahorses in reef systems. I think that it is impossible, although there is one nuance here. Keeping seahorses in a reef tank is not recommended, but a few corals can be added to a seahorse system. Start with lighting. As a rule, seahorses prefer low light, so corals for a seahorse aquarium must be chosen very carefully. Most LPS corals with long tentacles are not suitable as roommates for seahorses. A good rule of thumb is that if a coral looks like an anemone, it will behave like an anemone. Large LPS corals have an abundance of stinging cells that can and will sting the skin of seahorses. Although there are a few exceptions, some LPS species such as Acanthastrea, Favites and Lobophyllia are relatively safe and do well under T5 light.

Even with the limitations already mentioned, there are enough corals that can get along well with seahorses. Coral polyps, particularly zoantaria, Pachyclavularia, Clavularia, mushroom corals, and ricordia, usually coexist with seahorses without any problems. Simple gorgonians, for example, in particular, representatives of the Briareum, Psuedoterogorgia elisabethae, Muriceopsis flavida, - good neighbors, if you give them a little attention. Generally mushroom corals and ricordia do not cause problems. Artificial corals: varieties that look like real corals are gradually appearing on the market and gaining popularity.

Necessary decor

Seahorses need special stands that they can cling to during the day. During the day, they spend most of their time hooking their tails to the rack, rolling their eyes in all directions in search of food. Gorgonians are excellent anchoring sites, as are artificial corals and kelp. My two yellow H. reidi spend most of their time clinging to the artificial kelp that I have placed in the back corner of my aquarium. In the evenings they move towards the yellow and orange gorgonians, closer to the front of the aquarium, sometimes turning their snouts around as if waiting for supper.

macro algae

Many species of seahorses are found in shallow water near seagrass beds, and also in places where seaweed creates a natural barrier that encloses the inner, calm part of the coral reef. Since many species of these algae are protected by law, macroalgae that look similar in appearance can be placed in a seahorse aquarium. If there are no restrictions in your country, then the various types of Caulerpa are excellent candidates. Caulerpa is often used in refugia due to its ability to filter out ammonia and nitrate, making it even more attractive to a seahorse aquarium. Check the regulations and laws in your area before using Caulerpa. Since Caulerpas grow very quickly, care must be taken to ensure that the algae does not suffocate your corals. Other less intensively growing species are Gracilaria, Laurencia and Bryothamnion algae.

living stones

In a seahorse aquarium, I recommend placing live rock. Just make sure that they are properly cured: pests, in particular large polychaetes and stomatopods, should not remain on the stone. Polychaetes do not cause much trouble, but stomatopods can one day destroy all seahorse neighbors.

Care and feeding

For captive-bred seahorses, frozen Mysis shrimp are best. Since seahorses feed slowly, you will need to figure out how to feed them. You can patiently feed them with your hand, “point” give them a few shrimps, or install a feeder in the aquarium. In most cases, the most convenient option is a douche. With it, you can feed them shrimp one at a time, if the seahorse missed a shrimp, you can pull it back into the syringe and carefully place the shrimp in the feeder. Most seahorses should eat six to eight shrimp twice a day. Larger individuals eat more, so it is important to keep a close eye on pets.

feeders

While I enjoy hand feeding my seahorses, I have found a feeder to be much more convenient. A feeder is something that looks like a cup/saucer that seahorses can eat from. I use a small glass cup; although I know other aquarists use a variety of items. Large empty shells, cavities in live rock, or custom-bought feeders are all fine. Around the feeder there should be racks for seahorses to gain a foothold. To get the seahorses used to the feeder, get their attention with one shrimp, then put it in the feeder. Place the shrimp in front of the seahorse and use a syringe to squeeze it out in front of the seahorse's snout. With a little practice, you will be able to hold the shrimp on the end of the douche and guide the seahorse to the feeder. Alternatively, hold the tail of the shrimp with tweezers and try to get the attention of the seahorse. As a rule, this procedure is enough to carry out once or twice, so that they figure out what's wrong. Soon you will see how they will go to the feeder, barely seeing you near the aquarium.

Health and disease prevention

I am often asked about the coloration of seahorses. Coloration may vary rather from individual to individual, and to a lesser extent depends on the species. The species "yellow seahorse" does not exist. I have seen yellow H. reidi, yellow H. kuda and yellow H. erectus. The coloration of seahorses can change depending on their mood, stress, and environment. For example, when my instance H. reidi cares for the female, it changes its color to bright yellow and the stripes become more pronounced. When I first introduced them to the aquarium, both specimens had lost their yellow coloration, changing to brown-spotted, which more closely matched the color of live stones. The main thing: you should not buy a seahorse only by color. Keep a close eye on color changes in your seahorses; a drastic change can be associated with severe stress. On the surface of the body of seahorses there is a special pattern - saddle marks, which do not change if the color changes, but can become more or less noticeable. However, under stress, these marks may disappear completely.

Well, now you already know enough to start your first seahorse aquarium! I hope the article was helpful. And although it will take some work to create an aquarium with seahorses, the end result more than compensates for the time and effort spent on planning. Aquariums with seahorses are unusual, beautiful and fascinating. Don't be surprised if one day you find yourself sitting in front of an aquarium watching these creatures. After all, most likely, seahorses will reciprocate.

The reproduction of seahorses living in tropical seas and inhabiting temperate latitudes is slightly different.

During the breeding season, this ritual of greeting is repeated every morning, after which the pair proceeds to "breakfast", remaining in a relatively limited area. At the same time, partners try not to let each other out of their sight. As the moment of mating approaches, the ritual of greeting lasts all day.

It is very important that the fish mature at the same time. On the day when mating takes place, the ritual becomes more frequent. At some point, the female suddenly raises her head and begins to swim up, and the male follows her. At this stage, the female's ovipositor becomes visible, and the male's pouch opens. The female inserts the ovipositor into the opening of the pouch and lays eggs within a few seconds.

For mating, it is very important that the sex products of both partners mature at the same time. For long-established pairs, mating occurs without a hitch at any time of the day, while for newly formed pairs, one of the partners must wait for the other and remain “fully ready” for several days.

The moment of hatching of fry is also extremely important for many fish. Seahorses are guided by the times of high and low tides, when the current is strongest and can guarantee a wide distribution of offspring. The tides are regulated by the lunar cycle and are especially intense during the full moon. Therefore, it is not surprising that seahorses breed most actively during certain phases of the moon.

The species that I observed was reproductively active on a full moon, and the birth of fry - four weeks after spawning - again fell on a full moon, and after a few days the males were ready to accept a new clutch. During the breeding season, spawning was repeated every four weeks.

The fry hatched in the father's bag and immediately left it. A lot of fry appear at the same time, which makes the male arch his body forward from time to time in order to push them out. Seahorse fry are left to themselves, because after hatching, their parents stop caring for them.

In some species, fry lead a pelagic way of life and drift with the flow, in others they remain in one place. In close relatives of seapikes, the breeding process is basically the same, however, seahorses are the only members of their family that completely hide their eggs in the skin. The rest use folds of skin, which cover the caviar or attach it to special recesses in the body.

The reason for such care of seahorses for offspring may be that in the thickets of grass where fish live, a large number of invertebrates live, for which caviar serves as food.

In free-swimming pipefish and dragons, such contact is rare, so there is no need for additional protection of offspring. The evolution of role reversal But how did the role reversal occur, as a result of which males of the Syngnathidae family began to bear eggs?

Of course, one can only guess about this, but if you look closely at the fish of related families with the usual breeding process, then a certain conclusion suggests itself about how everything could be.

Like many fishes, among the ancestors of syngnatids, spawning probably proceeded as follows: the male and female moved synchronously upwards and simultaneously excreted eggs and milk. After fertilization, the eggs were carried away by the current, or they settled and stuck, for example, on the stalks of sea grass. If such “sticky” eggs successfully developed and the fry survived, then it can be assumed that stickiness only increased in subsequent generations. And then, probably, individual eggs were glued to the abdomen of the male, which gave them the best chance of survival and protection from predators.

If everything was so, then in the process of evolution, fish improved such “care for offspring”.

Seahorses became the first fish in marine aquariums in Japan and Europe. Many species are not only successfully kept in captivity, but also breed, but this occupation requires a lot of effort and time. In scientific publications, there is not a single line about keeping and breeding skates in aquariums, but reports about this appear in aquarium magazines, which, however, are not widely distributed.

Personally, I wrote an article about aquarium breeding of sea dragons from caviar, that is, about fish that are considered unsuitable for an aquarium. After appearing in a recognized magazine, these fish and their breeding methods very quickly became objects of interest, especially for public aquariums.

live food

Many aquarists breed seahorses, and many public aquariums breed these fish. It mainly takes place in Europe, Japan and Singapore.

Interestingly, many breed the Australian species H. abdominalis, a fairly large pipit that easily adapts to captivity.

I have been able to propagate H. whitei from Sydney and H. abdominalis and H. breviceps from Melbourne. In principle, everything is not so difficult. All that is needed is good sea water, an aquarium, scenery that mimics a natural biotope, and a regular supply of quality food for the fish.

The latter can be a problem, especially if the hobbyist does not have a good and nutritious frozen food. I had a similar situation, so every second day I had to go to the sea and dive to catch food for my skates.

But through so many efforts, breeding these fish was no problem.

I started in 1980 breeding H. breviceps and H. abdominalis with the goal of photographing the birth of the fry. However, as it soon became clear, this task was not at all an easy one. I still could not get to the right moment and usually found the hatched fry in the morning hours. It took several months before I managed to catch the moment of "delivery", which proceeds very quickly.

"One-Eyed Bandit"

In 1992, I decided to take tropical seahorses more seriously. In Sydney harbor I caught four male and three female H. whitei. One of the males was one-eyed, and another was "pregnant."

I planted them in a one square meter aquarium with a height of 50 cm. The water temperature was just over 20 ° C - absolutely normal for this species. Of all the animals, only two formed a pair and, seven days after the birth of the fry, they began mating, the rest of the “non-pregnant” males began to care for all the females in a row.

The one-eyed male did not lag behind the others and more and more often won the attention of one of the females carrying eggs, but in the subsequent “dance ritual”, describing circles around his chosen one, he suddenly lost sight of her.

As far as I can tell, he didn't have a successful mating. Also, the males tried to expel a friend, thereby getting rid of competitors. They bit their rivals, which was accompanied by a clicking sound. Such behavior prevented the not yet mated skates from "tuning in" to each other: once, for example, the eggs fell past the male's pouch.

Often dark-chested males chased females, but there was no noticeable reaction from the latter. Once a one-eyed male undertook to "besiege" a very large female with a lot of eggs, which, however, did not reciprocate and found another male. True, he showed no interest in her.

The next year, partners often changed each other, and the males continued to see each other only as rivals. For example, one who had just given birth to fry began to besiege another “pregnant” male, who first hid behind “his” female, but was later driven out into a line of furious clicks.

1000 fry per season

At intervals of four weeks, fry appeared on my skates, which I raised in a common aquarium. They grew very quickly, but for this I had to regularly catch food in the ocean that the fry could swallow.

The number of fry was so great that I could not leave all of them in the aquarium, therefore, after growing up the fry, I released them into the ocean, about 50 to 200 individuals per month. At birth, the length of the fry reached 12 mm, and within two weeks they grew twice.

A year later, the health of my "savages" deteriorated, and they stopped spawning. On average, each couple produced 80 fry per month, that is, more than 1000 during the year. Interestingly, the reproductive activity of couples increased, as in nature, during the full moon. Soon, the few fry that I kept for myself began to multiply.

"Eternal love"?

My intensive breeding of seahorses was caused not only by my own desire to observe the mating and birth of fish, but also by numerous requests from other aquarists who were interested in these processes.

Much of what I saw, I could not find an explanation. For example, during a strong storm, all the seahorses gathered at the top of the seagrass stalk, forming a kind of vine. Yes, and the mating itself was fraught with several surprises.

For example, my seahorses turned out to be not so monogamous as described in the literature!

While filming a view of H. breviceps one day, I noticed how one of the females intervened at the moment of mating and transferred her eggs into the male's already open pouch. On another occasion, a male took eggs from two females at once.

And although these observations were made in an aquarium, I am sure that similar things happen in nature. It seems to me that the assumption of monogamy in seahorses has no basis. Observations in natural conditions last a short time and do not give a hint of how the animals will behave in a year.

Mating requires synchronous maturation, and in that sense, pipits are no different from other reef fish, so I can imagine that it is very difficult to find a new partner during the peak of the breeding season.

In such conditions, it is quite advisable for partners to remain together during the entire breeding season.

However, for most species, if not all, caring for offspring is a "seasonal job", and this season depends on climate changes in the corresponding geographical area.

In the tropics, skates start spawning immediately after the rainy season, and in subtropical zones in the spring, when there should be enough food for juveniles in the water. After the breeding season, the animals seem to disperse and go (or better, swim) their own way. Some species migrate to other zones, often to depths. Sometimes at this time I came across reefs on which there were only males or only females, so it seems to me that in nature, seahorses form their pairs only at the beginning of the breeding season.

The seahorse is a small-sized fish that is a member of the Needle family from the order Sticklebacks. Studies have shown that the seahorse is a highly modified needlefish. Today, the seahorse is a fairly rare creature. In this article you will find a description and photo of a seahorse, learn a lot of new and interesting things about this extraordinary creature.

The seahorse looks very unusual and the shape of the body resembles a chess piece of a horse. The seahorse fish has many long bony spines and various leathery outgrowths on its body. Thanks to this body structure, the seahorse looks invisible among the algae and remains inaccessible to predators. The seahorse looks amazing, it has small fins, its eyes rotate independently of each other, and its tail is twisted into a spiral. The seahorse looks diverse, because it can change the color of its scales.

The seahorse looks small, its size depends on the species and varies from 4 to 25 cm. In the water, the seahorse swims vertically, unlike other fish. This is due to the fact that the swim bladder of a seahorse consists of an abdominal and a head part. The head bladder is larger than the abdominal one, which allows the seahorse to maintain an upright position when swimming.

Now the seahorse is becoming less and less common and is on the verge of extinction due to the rapid decline in numbers. There are many reasons for the extinction of the seahorse. The main one is the destruction by man of both the fish itself and its habitats. Off the coast of Australia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, skates are massively caught. The exotic appearance and bizarre body shape caused people to start making gift souvenirs from them. For beauty, they artificially bend their tail and give the body the shape of the letter "S", but in nature the skates do not look like that.

Another reason that contributes to the decline in the population of seahorses is that they are a delicacy. Gourmets highly appreciate the taste of these fish, especially the eyes and liver of seahorses. In a restaurant, the cost of one serving of such a dish costs $ 800.

In total, there are about 50 species of seahorses, 30 of which are already listed in the Red Book. Fortunately, seahorses are very prolific and can produce over a thousand fry at one time, which keeps the seahorses from disappearing. Seahorses are bred in captivity, but this fish is very whimsical to keep. One of the most extravagant seahorses is the rag-picker seahorse, which you can see in the photo below.

The seahorse lives in tropical and subtropical seas. Seahorse fish lives mainly at shallow depths or near the coast and leads a sedentary lifestyle. The seahorse lives in dense thickets of algae and other marine vegetation. It attaches with its flexible tail to plant stems or corals, remaining almost invisible due to its body covered with various outgrowths and spikes.

The seahorse fish changes body color to blend in completely with its surroundings. Thus, the seahorse successfully disguises itself not only from predators, but also during food production. The seahorse is very bony, so few people want to eat it. The main hunter of the seahorse is the large land crab. The seahorse can travel long distances. To do this, he attaches his tail to the fins of various fish and keeps on them until the "free taxi" swims into the algae thickets.

What do seahorses eat?

Seahorses eat crustaceans and shrimps. Seahorses are very interesting eaters. The tubular stigma, like a pipette, draws prey into the mouth along with water. Seahorses eat quite a lot and hunt almost the whole day, taking short breaks for a couple of hours.

During the day, seahorses eat about 3 thousand planktonic crustaceans. But seahorses eat almost any food, as long as it does not exceed the size of the mouth. The seahorse fish is a hunter. With its flexible tail, the seahorse clings to algae and remains motionless until the prey is in the required proximity to the head. After that, the seahorse sucks in water along with food.

How do seahorses reproduce?

Seahorses reproduce in a rather unusual way, because the male bears their fry. It is not uncommon for seahorses to have monogamous pairs. The mating season of seahorses is an amazing sight. The couple, who are about to enter into a marriage union, are fastened with their tails and dance in the water. In the dance, the skates are pressed against each other, after which the male opens a special pocket in the abdominal region, into which the female throws eggs. In the future, the male bears offspring for a month.

Seahorses breed quite often and bring large offspring. A seahorse gives birth to one thousand or more fry at a time. Fry are born an absolute copy of adults, only very tiny. The babies that are born are left to their own devices. In nature, a seahorse lives for about 4-5 years.

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Reproduction of seahorses. One by one, the seahorse releases its cubs "into people." Grasping the algae with its tail in a secluded place, it bends, unbends, and fry appear from the hatching chamber. This can last for two days, and there are up to 14 thousand cubs. One can imagine how many babies (and they are about the same length in most species of seahorses - 7-11 millimeters) can fit in the stomach of a 35-centimeter seahorse that lives in the eastern parts of the Pacific Ocean. However, there is also pygmy seahorses 2.5 centimeters in size. They live in the Gulf of Mexico.

Zoologists are well aware that in those fish that somehow take care of the offspring after fertilization, in three out of four cases the male does this. When spawning, the female lays eggs in the brood chamber of the male, who carries her with him.

Seahorses about 35 species, and they live in tropical seas in shallow water. Usually they sit, clinging to some algae with their tail, and look around with separately rotating eyes. When something of interest—usually a small crustacean—appears within reach, the seahorse sucks it up with its tubular snout. Seahorses have no teeth, stomach, or ribs.

Skates swim while standing and keep their posture with the help of a swim bladder. They row with their dorsal fin, and those two fins that look like ears serve as rudders. It is known that skates make sounds by tapping the crown, which is on their head, on the “crown”. This sound is amplified by the swim bladder. They say that with such sounds a seahorse can warn about the danger of the cubs, which he grazes for the first time, and they hide in the brood chamber. It is also believed that the strength and frequency of sounds increase before mating - such is the mating call of seahorses. The Canadian researcher Amanda Vincent, who observed seahorses, even believes that they form permanent pairs: every morning, the male and female meet for a short time, they are helped to recognize each other by the ability to change the color of the body.

From black or gray, a seahorse can turn orange, yellow, or purple in a matter of seconds, mimicking the color of its surroundings. Since seahorses swim slowly, the color change helps to escape from predators. However, they are hunted only by crabs - the meat of the skates is bony and tasteless. They are found undigested in the stomachs of tuna. So the most dangerous thing for a skate is when the current will tear it away from the “sest” and carry it away.

According to Amanda Vincent, it is very likely that Sea Horses live according to the lunar calendar. They mate after a full moon, and the babies appear on the next or one of the following full moons. The warmer the sea, the shorter the time for the development of eggs: for striped seahorses, it lasts a month off the coast of Florida and a month and a half off the coast of New England. Amanda Vincent connects the life of seahorses with the lunar calendar because the tide is highest on the full moon, the baby chicks disperse more widely and most of them can elude predators.

seahorses in aquariums usually die, because it is very difficult to create suitable conditions for them. In order to make a film about seahorses, Amanda Vincent spent several months building a marine aquarium with a complex system of pipes. But she was rewarded with an amazing opportunity to observe and film the life of seahorses. And yet, she says, “it’s amazing when a seahorse is completely free and can swim anywhere, and he firmly holds on to your finger with his tail ...”

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The reproduction of seahorses living in tropical seas and inhabiting temperate latitudes is slightly different.

In tropical species, it is quite common to see how males greet females at the first rays of the sun, swimming around their chosen ones and, probably, confirming their readiness for breeding. It is noticed that the chest area of the male is painted in a dark color, he bows his head and thus makes circles around the female, touching the bottom with his tail. At the same time, the female does not budge, but spins around her axis after the male. In contrast, male temperate seahorses inflate their pouch, causing the stretched skin to become almost white.

During the breeding season, this ritual of greeting is repeated every morning, after which the pair proceeds to "breakfast", remaining in a relatively limited area. At the same time, partners try not to let each other out of their sight. As the moment of mating approaches, the ritual of greeting lasts all day.

If one of the partners is not ready, then spawning is interrupted and everything starts anew. The number of eggs depends, as a rule, on the size of the male (it can be a small, young male, and an adult specimen) and on the type of fish. Some species produce from 30 to 60 eggs for spawning, others - about 500 or more. Synchronization is important.

For mating, it is very important that the sex products of both partners mature at the same time. For long-established pairs, mating occurs without a hitch at any time of the day, while for newly formed pairs, one of the partners must wait for the other and remain “fully ready” for several days.

The moment of hatching of fry is also extremely important for many fish. Seahorses are guided by the times of high and low tides, when the current is strongest and can guarantee a wide distribution of offspring. The tides are regulated by the lunar cycle and are especially intense during the full moon. Therefore, it is not surprising that seahorses breed most actively during certain phases of the moon.