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All living things experience stress, for some it can just be a partial impairment but for some, it can be debilitating to the point of death.
Seahorses are sensitive and fragile marine creatures that are prone to stress. When in captivity a lot can go wrong leaving them in a compromised state of distress.
When these tiny creatures are exposed to stress, or even worse chronic stress it threatens their physiological and biological state which only leads to a slow and painful death if not dealt with.
For this reason, it is important to notice signs of stress and intervene immediately.
This is the only way to help keep these creatures happy and thriving increasing their lifespan when in captivity.
Here are the most common signs that seahorses display when stressed.
1. Change In Breathing Patterns.
A seahorse’s respiration rate may fluctuate naturally throughout the day depending on different situations and circumstances.
When they are feeding, actively courting, being handled, or excited in general, they always return to their normal resting respiratory rate afterward.
These are the normal breathing changes that occur on a daily basis, often followed by a steady breathing pattern.
When seahorses are distressed their breathing patterns change, they will often present with labored breathing, huffing, panting, yawning, or coughing behavior, as well as other indications of respiratory distress.
Due to their primitive gills, seahorses are not as efficient at extracting oxygen from the water leaving them already prone to breathing issues.
Any additional stress such as changes in water temperature, water quality, or even an impairment of their gills will negatively affect their breathing even more.
Also, any parasites or diseases that affect their gills add to the problem making it practically impossible for them to breathe.
Always inspect them regularly for such noticeable changes so you can act quickly and treat the problem.
2. Lack Of Appetite.
Even though seahorses are passive feeders they love food and will continuously eat if resources are being provided.
You see seahorses don’t have a stomach so they can’t ingest and store food for later use, instead, food is ingested, dissolved, and expelled regularly.
A lack of appetite or a lack of interest in feeding is a good indicator that something is wrong since they are continuously burning energy and need to refuel.
If a seahorse isn’t feeding properly it is a huge problem since these creatures require sufficient daily nutrition to sustain themselves.
This was the biggest challenge when keeping wild-caught seahorses since they couldn’t adjust well to eating frozen food instead of live food, which caused them to reject the food.
This only led to their decline and death.
Thankfully with the new and improved captive-bred seahorse, they tend to be more adapted and fitting for a closed system.
They also feed better since they are already weaned into eating frozen foods.
So if your seahorses aren’t feeding well enough chances are that there is something that’s causing them distress.
After all a normal healthy pony will munch at every shrimp they can possibly find.
3. Abnormal Discoloration.
Seahorses have great color-changing abilities that are often influenced by how they feel, and what they are exposed to.
Seahorses change color using small, sack-like organs known as chromatophores, which are embedded in their skin.
Each chromatophore contains pigments. Expansion or contraction of the chromatophores via tiny muscles results in different colors being displayed with varying intensity.
These chromatophores are controlled in two ways: by the nervous system or by hormones.
The nervous system is often used for control when faced with unexpected situations that require a fast response.
For example when they encounter predators or when they feel threatened their nervous systems kick in bringing about subtle tones and coloration great for camouflage.
However, hormones are also used for control and are required whenever the seahorses need to make themselves more visually appealing.
For instance, when courting and breeding they will appear to be more brighter and vibrant displaying great coloration.
This is also the case when they are happy and excited and they display their hearts on their outward appearance.
A happy seahorse will display their mental state in their overall appearance becoming more aesthetically pleasing.
A stressed seahorse often becomes darker since it is a response to a certain type of distress they are affected by.
Skin infections and parasites can also attack their skin causing localized loss of pigmentation or discoloration.
So be on the lookout for pale patches or white blotches that may appear on your seahorse suddenly, particularly if these pale spots are not symmetrical.
4. Change In Behaviour.
Seahorses have their own unique personality which we can learn to identify by.
They are very magical in their movements and overall flamboyance but when threatened or affected by certain stressors they will display behavior that is unfamiliar.
Depending on the type of stress factor they will present with behaviours of such.
For example, seahorses who are affected by a parasitic infestation can become erratic in order to deal with the sensation of these parasites that have attached to them.
They will do all sorts of gestures and unpredictable movements to relieve themselves.
On the other hand, some seahorses may become distant and inactive, showing no interest in feeding or interacting.
This is often the case if they are threatened or their health is compromised.
Make sure you spend enough time with them so you are able to learn their normal functioning and behavior.
This will help you identify uncommon behavior. Early detection will greatly help in detecting the issue and treating it quickly.
5. Weakened Immune System.
A seahorse in distress will not only be affected by their behavior and outward appearance but it will severely compromise their immune system.
Stress is one of the primary factors that suppress the immune system and weaken the immune response of seahorses.
This lack of defense can open the doors to many bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections and diseases that can consume them.
You see seahorses can carry a whole lot of microfauna (bacteria) and it won’t affect them at all, but when the host is compromised in a weakened state these opportunists attack.
Without the right immune response and protection, these creatures become easy targets and can be consumed pretty quickly.
If you notice that your seahorse is getting sick too often, it could be the result of prolonged stress that has caused the seahorse to be compromised.
This can be debilitating and can be fatal if left untreated.
6. Incorrect Posture.
A seahorse’s posture is a very important aspect to their well-being and this attribute can be negatively affected by stress.
What I’ve noticed is that seahorses who are either sick, stressed, or threatened display a low profile with their head bent downwards.
While this specific body language isn’t a problem, if continuous then it’s a viable indication that something is wrong.
Another issue is buoyance problems which affect their movements in the water. Making them either float or sink to the bottom.
While seahorses are buoyant they can control their movements, positive or negative buoyancy can leave them debilitated.
Make sure you constantly check on your seahorses to ensure that they are well, posture is a good determining factor to check a seahorse’s state of health.
With a happy/satisfied seahorse displaying a more poised, subtle, and free aura.
Pay careful attention to your seahorses and learn their natural movements and gestures. This will help you determine if something is wrong when they act out of character.
7. Not Interactive.
Captive-bred seahorses are most commonly kept instead of wild-caught and these guys are more sociable with a gregarious nature.
They like interacting with their other counterparts as well as with humans when they are handled.
But when you notice isolation and lack of interaction it can mean that they are in distress.
You see captive-bred seahorses are bred in huge tanks with high densities of livestock. This makes them more interactive and enjoy the company.
They will swim together, dance together, and also perform ritualistic gestures in pairs.
Isolation or lack of interest is a result of a certain stressor that causes them to retrieve, Be sure to catch these visible changes immediately so you can find the problem and fix it.
However, be careful to not mistake a shy seahorse for a distressed seahorse. You will learn more about this when you get to know their individual personalities.
Final Thoughts.
Stress is a huge factor when it comes to seahorses. These tiny creatures are very sensitive to environmental changes and are prone to stress.
Make sure you provide the best environment for them to thrive while ensuring they are healthy and satisfied.
You must constantly keep an eye on them, after all, early detection is what’s required for the best possible outcomes.
If not these gentle souls can be consumed really quickly.
