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Many pets can exhibit different personality traits just like humans. This can be seen in their behavior, emotions, and overall character. This whole construct makes up their personality, but have you wondered if seahorses have a personality?
Seahorses do have a personality and it is mainly distinguished between bold and shy. For this reason, you will notice some seahorses are friendlier than others, or some may be interactive while others are inactive. All these variations are evidence that displays the different personalities and characters of these mesmerizing creatures. Captive-bred specimens remain the most sought-after due to their gregarious personality which seems to be an artifact of domestication.
According to a laboratory experiment that was conducted on the Hippocampus reidi. They demonstrated that approximately half of the seahorses had a bold personality, while others remained shy.
These conclusions were made through various testing and analyzing of their behavior, activity levels, and ability to adapt to changing conditions.
This is substantial evidence to prove that not all seahorses are the same as each one exhibits their own character traits.
However, with the new arrival of captive-bred seahorses, we’ve seen a total change in personality and character traits compared to wild-caught seahorses.
The domesticated specimens have proven to be more social, interactive, and robust displaying quite unique traits for sedentary fish like the seahorse.
Now it’s not a question of whether seahorses have a personality but rather what else these new profound personalities entail.
I can assure you it is quite an exciting time for seahorse keepers with so much new that is birthed forth with the arrival of the captive-bred species.
We could be expecting an array of personalities, characters, and dispositions that were once unheard of for seahorses.
Wild-Caught vs. Captive-Bred.
WILD-CAUGHT.
There’s a big difference between wild-caught and captive-bred seahorses.
Wild-caught fish are fish that have been removed directly from the ocean to which they make their way into your home aquarium.
They are ocean-routined and acclimated to the ocean’s environment.
Their behavior, personality, nutritional habits, and overall disposition are formed to suit the tough challenges that the ocean presents.
These guys often don’t have a chance to display their personalities due to the overwhelming stress of the changing environment from sea to aquarium.
Placing these wild fish within a closed system will definitely result in a host of issues that may end badly.
Wild-caught is very difficult to maintain and they won’t give you a proper chance to succeed if you aren’t experienced enough.
CAPTIVE-BRED
Captive-bred seahorses are ones that are bred in captivity. They haven’t experienced life in the wild so their entire personality and disposition are based on their life while in a closed system.
We’ve seen several changes in these domesticated specimens including;
1. They are more gregarious which means they are fond of company and are highly sociable. This is because they are bred in large tanks with high densities of their own kind.
2. Due to human handling, care, and maintenance they are a lot more used to humans and are able to recognize their owners after a while.
3. They have become a lot more bolder, interactive, and involved. The once inactive and sedentary species have now become alive and robust.
4. Domesticated seahorses are more equipped to handle stress and are overall more resilient. These guys can handle other tankmates and do well with change.
5. They are also more expressive, displaying their emotions through their different shades of colors that are forever changing.
How Are Seahorses Personality Seen?
1. SOCIABILITY.
We see their personality in how they socialize and how they interact with their other counterparts, other fish, and humans. Some may be more outgoing than others.
Some are approachable and engaging while others will choose to isolate themselves retrieving from any interaction.
This shows the difference in character traits which we can regard as either bold or shy.
2. ACTIVITY.
Some seahorses are very active and robust. They are always on the move either engaging with others or slurping up mysis.
While others will remain sedentary in the same position with little to no movements or gestures.
We’ve found that the bolder ones tend to be the movers always fiddling around while the shy passive ones remain inactive.
3. RESPONSIVENESS.
This can be seen by their attitude in how quickly they respond to certain things. Brave ponies will develop some kind of zeal and interest while others will remain unbothered.
For example, when it’s feeding time, some will even hype themselves before the food is given. They will start to move back and forth or side to side when they know it’s that time.
Others will remain unbothered and will only feed on the food that comes to them. This poor response is normally from the quieter ones.
This is yet another variation in which we are able to see the different personalities shine.
4. CURIOSITY.
You get some who are curious, some who remain unbothered, and some who are just inquisitive. This can be confirmed by the study which I’ve mentioned above.
Since all individuals responded differently to the new habitats that were artificially created during the experiments.
We see a great difference in responses.
The bold seahorses were lured into these new habitats displaying great activity levels and curiosity while the other shy ones remained inactive and unaffected.
5. ADAPTABILITY.
This can be seen clearly by wild-caught compared to captive-bred seahorses. Captive-bred seahorses are more adaptable and they adjust well.
As a result, they will thrive, remain active, feed well, and sustain themselves.
Those who cannot adapt well often aren’t able to sustain themselves and they don’t do well.
Final Thoughts.
Seahorses are very mesmerizing creatures that love to freely express themselves. However, it does take time for them to get used to their environment in order for them to reveal themselves.
Make sure you are providing the best possible habitat with the correct water parameters suitable for them to thrive.
A relaxed and happy seahorse is very expressive and they will show you the variations of their personalities.
Most people don’t get to experience the great rituals and flamboyance expressed by these magical creatures.
This is because of the beginner mistakes made which keeps seahorses tense and stressed. Remember a happy seahorse is an expressive seahorse.
