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Seahorse keeping has come a long way from the initial wild-caught specimens to the new and improved Captive-bred ones. This new arrival has brought about more personality traits making them more social and interactive.
Seahorses are smarter than most fish and can recognize their human owners. They grow fond of the ones who feed, care, and handle them, allowing for every interaction as an opportunity to reinforce their bond. This happens over time since they get used to the daily practices as well as the one who initiates these kind gestures. After all, it’s the food that they look forward to the most, the feeder recognition is just a byproduct of the process.
Captive-bred seahorses have proved to be more robust, resistant, and more sociable. This new personality is an artifact of domestication.
When bred in captivity these creatures are bred in huge tanks at high densities of their own kind more than what they would’ve experienced in the wild.
This closeness allowed for a more social and interactive specimen to be produced.
Since they were brought up together with lots of movement, different personalities, and a lot of action they have become more easygoing and friendly.
Not forgetting the human interaction they experience when it comes to feeding and the overall care given by breeders.
This acclimates them to humans and takes away the fears of such encounters, therefore when introduced to your home aquarium they are already comfortable with the dynamics of that environment.
This makes it simple for owners to handle and care for them reinforcing this relationship with every serving provided.
If you are consistent with your daily routine, over time it will become the norm and as a result, your seahorses will start to recognize you by your actions, practices, and daily routines.
This only ends in a close-knit relationship that’s mutually beneficial, social, and highly interactive.
Evidence Of Recognition.
You may be thinking, can these creatures really recognize me? I can assure you that their actions, behavior, and overall friendly exchange are sufficient evidence to prove their recognition of you as their owner.
According to Ocean Rider at seahorse.com, they have experienced this recognition and have been fulfilled by the mesmerizing and rewarding acts of recognition.
These acts of recognition include;
1. Some seahorses will brighten up whenever they notice you. These vibrant colors are often triggered by emotions.
They could either be happy to see you or be fueled by anticipation for the juicy meals that you are about to serve.
Either way and for whatever reason you will be blessed with pops of colors which is probably to get your attention.
2. They will eat off your hand! Most fish are too fearful to even encounter their owners, once they meet with certain interactions they swim away in hiding.
But some of these gentle creatures are brave and bold enough to familiarize their owners to the point of eating from their hands.
This is truly a rewarding gesture that comes with keeping seahorses successfully.
3. You will become their hitching posts. Normally seahorses require hitching posts whereby they can rest by wrapping their prehensile tails around.
Once they become used to you, you can put your finger in and they will hitch on to you.
Even though it isn’t advised to put your hands into their tank I must admit I’d be tempted not to, provided you’ve taken the necessary precautions.
4. Another great gesture is the dancing and rituals that they will use to greet you and to display their excitement.
This can be seen as swimming back and forth, or from side to side, or sometimes all sorts of happy movements.
5. They enjoy being handled by their keepers. This means they won’t be stressed, or compromised when exposed, inspected, or cared for.
They will gladly welcome encounters with a breeze since you’ve enabled them to trust you.
How Do They Get Used To You?
The journey of seahorse keeping doesn’t just end by successfully keeping them but it goes on to form these great rewarding relationships.
I know it sounds absurd since these creatures are just fish right? but they can be pets if you actually put in the effort.
This requires consistency, creating a routine, and a whole lot of patience. Let’s take a look.
1. You must create the perfect setting for them with the right tank and water parameters for them to thrive.
Once they are happy and fulfilled it makes the process of bonding easier, since a distressed seahorse will be compromised and negatively affected.
2. You absolutely have to get captive-bred seahorses for this union between fish and owner to work.
Wild-caught is just too fragile to adjust to human handling, it’s possible but it requires experienced hands.
Rather go for domesticated ponies who will adjust quicker and are able to withstand the initial fears of such encounters.
3. Creating a routine is the next step, this should involve daily feeding, cleaning, and water checks. You can use maintenance as a way of bonding.
However most of the time, food is the best way to get through to them and to win their hearts. So you want to either set up a feeding station or target feed.
I would advise you to target feed since target feeding reduces leftovers and is more interactive and personal.
Target feeding will allow you to get used to each seahorse so you can get used to their personality and character.
4. Consistency is what really makes this work since the repetition of this routine is what allows the seahorses to familiarize themselves with you.
Choose the same time every day following the same routine.
5. Try feeding with your hands, although some may shy away from you while the ones with bold personalities will encourage it.
Just don’t force them but allow them to come to you it will create a more soothing encounter with a lasting effect.
6. Be gentle when your hand is in the water, making sure to handle them gently and calmly. They are fragile and can be injured easily.
Even if you choose to not use your hands, a turkey baster is ideal to deliver nutrient-enriched mysis for them to feast upon.
7. Make sure your hands are clean and free of dirt or debris. Failing to follow this step could lead to the introduction of harmful substances in their tank.
Make sure your skin and hands have no lotion or moisturizer of any sort which can be harmful to the closed system.
Possible Risks.
1. Injury is always a risk when handling seahorses since these creatures are so small and fragile that they can be easily hurt.
2. You can introduce contaminants even if your hands are clean. This refers to certain bacteria and pathogens which may be present on your hands.
3. Often soap and water are used to wash hands which is completely fine just be careful to not allow any drip of foam to enter the tank.
This can mix with the water and cause all sorts of chemical imbalances. Make sure your hands are washed and dried before you place them into the tank.
4. Some seahorses may not handle humans like others, this is understandable since all have different personalities.
Never force interactions with these ponies but freely offer yourself for whoever is bold enough to come.
Failing to do so may cause them distress leading to their decline.
5. Placing your hands in a saltwater tank also puts you at risk since some strains of bacteria can cause rashes, irritation, or inflammation on the skin.
Always wash your hands before and after handling a saltwater aquarium.
Benefits.
1. You get to share a bond that’s very rewarding for both the seahorse and the humans involved. After all, it’s not common for fish to enjoy human encounters but there are exceptions.
2. You get to witness individual personalities, flamboyance, and characters. As well as bursts of colors that they will bless your eyes with.
3. Sharing this bond makes maintenance and caring for them easier since you have something to look forward to with every interaction.
4. You will notice when something is not right, whether they are sick or stressed. Just by being close to them, you will know when they present with different behaviors that are uncommon.
Final Thoughts.
Who would have thought such magical creatures could share a bond with humans? This rewarding and mutually beneficial relationship should be sought out by all keepers.
It all boils down to consistency and developing trust, after all these bad boys are gentle creatures with so much love to give.
