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Death with seahorses is very common and the most difficult thing is that sometimes they show little to no symptoms of even being sick.
As a hobbyist, I know how hard it is to make sure all the different parameters are met just to ensure they are well.
But despite your greatest efforts in making sure they are well maintained and cared for, it’s sad to see them go.
Sometimes we may never really figure out the reason for their death, or what actions of ours may have led to their death.
We could have been doing 99 things right but that 1 thing which we may have overlooked may have been the cause of your seahorse dying.
It’s quite a daunting rollercoaster, at least for beginners dealing with saltwater aquariums and I know how emotionally taxing death is to handle after all that hard work.
So I’ve compiled a list that may help you recognize early signs of abnormal behavior.
Below is a list of common behaviors that I’ve noticed seahorses exhibit before dying.
These symptoms if caught early enough can prevent death and you be able to help them make a full recovery.
1. Lack Of Appetite.
Seahorses need a constant supply of nutrients to make sure they are well-resourced for daily living.
Because they don’t have stomachs and they are constantly releasing organic matter after each meal, the need for food is a top priority.
When a seahorse avoids food it’s a genuine sign that something is wrong.
Of course, lack of appetite doesn’t always mean your seahorse is dying but it’s enough to be concerned about.
You should monitor eating habits with every meal to learn about their normal eating habits to notice any changes when they do occur.
Catching these changes in eating patterns can result in an early diagnosis and treatment which can help save the seahorse from dying.
Most of the time hobbyists only find out about their well-being when it’s too late, and at this point death is inevitable.
2. No Swimming/Movement.
I’ve noticed many seahorses before dying become inactive, lazy, and almost lethargic.
Most of the time they become disorientated that they experience difficulty staying afloat and instead, they sink to the bottom of the tank hanging on to their last breath.
There are many reasons why a seahorse may lose swimming ability and overall equilibrium but the most common cause is a ammonia or nitrite spike.
When water parameters change even the slightest, seahorses become stressed out since they are sensitive enough to feel the sudden changes.
Ammonia and nitrite are toxic to seahorses as well as other fish and can cause rapid death if left untreated.
The presence of these chemicals in the water is enough to cause all sorts of issues since it changes the normal functions of their blood.
This leads to other more major issues which just lead to death. It’s important to always watch and be on the lookout for these chemical spikes.
Loss of momentum is a debilitating symptom for a seahorse. DO NOT TAKE THIS LIGHTLY.
A quick response can help them make a full recovery.
3. Discoloration.
First of all, it’s normal for seahorses to change color since their color is never fixed. Don’t get stressed out just yet!
The color that they display is a result of their diet, exposure to light, stress, and many other factors. But many display a very pale whitish color when they are sick.
The good thing about seahorses is that their appearance is always related to how they feel. A healthy seahorse will display effective color-changing properties.
But a sad, sick, or depressed seahorse will display a dull pale shade instead of their normal vibrant colors.
These pale patches often turn into ulcer wounds which leads to the degradation of their health in no time.
If you notice any changes in your seahorse’s color, as well as other symptoms it’s best to have them checked out for either parasites or infections.
Discoloration is a common sign in sick seahorses and it can be caught and treated early to prevent death.
4. Changes In Breathing Patterns.
A seahorse’s respiratory rate is never fixed it may fluctuate throughout the day depending on their actions and emotions.
Your seahorses’ respiration rate may increase naturally when they are feeding, actively courting, being handled, or excited in general, and then returning to their normal resting respiratory rate afterward.
That’s natural and nothing to be concerned about, but the type of breathing I’m talking about is labored breathing where they struggle to breathe.
This type of breathing is almost like panting or huffing. This is a clear indication of respiratory distress.
You must familiarize yourself with your seahorse’s normal breathing pattern so you can identify when they present with irregular breathing patterns.
There are many possible things that can cause respiratory problems in seahorses but what I’ve found is that the most common cause is low oxygen levels.
In an aquarium oxygen levels aren’t constant. Oxygen levels are dependent on temperature, salinity as well as the changes from night to day.
These oxygen changes can significantly affect seahorses’ breathing patterns and once oxygen levels are low they will struggle to breathe becoming more sluggish and inactive.
If you don’t respond soon enough, this can cause sudden death. Make sure you monitor your seahorses daily to take note of any changes.
5. Weightloss
Weight loss in seahorses should never be taken lightly since it’s a symptom that shows something is not right.
There are many reasons why a seahorse may lose weight, possibly a parasite, low appetite, infection, or snout rot which may affect their eating.
If you notice your seahorse losing weight you must track their eating patterns to make sure they are getting enough.
Changes in eating patterns can be early signs of sickness. Early diagnosis can help treat whatever the problem may be.
Weight loss in seahorses can be the start of a health decline which may result in your seahorse dying prematurely.
6. Swelling.
Swelling is another abnormality that is dangerous if left untreated. Swelling can result from many different issues such as gas bubbles, infection, as well as egg binding found in females.
The location of the swelling is very important since it gives a more detailed approach in terms of diagnosis.
Often when swelling is left untreated which is in most cases. The pressure within the seahorse’s body increase causing all sorts of other health issues. This results in a painfully slow death.
Swelling should not be ignored, it’s also very important to observe your seahorse’s body daily to check for signs of health issues, difficulties, and abnormalities.
7. Posture and Buoyancy.
The correct posture and buoyancy of a seahorse are crucial in ensuring proper swimming and maneuvering within the water.
One of the major concerns that may suggest something wrong is incorrect form, bad movement, and negative or positive buoyancy.
Normally seahorses require just the right amount of gas to achieve neutral buoyancy, which means that they neither rise nor sink.
This facilitates swimming and makes holding the body upright effortless, but once normal functioning is disrupted they can either sink or float.
A seahorse that sinks to the bottom or floats on the surface could suggest issues with the gas bladder which may mean infection, endoparasites, or other health issues.
Once a seahorse’s movement is disrupted it will affect its normal functioning like feeding, interacting, etc.
If left untreated, this soon leads to the degradation of the seahorse’s health, ultimately death is the only outcome.
This is yet again another visible symptom that shows up before a health decline. Sadly most of the time this ends in death, due to a beginner’s lack of knowledge.
Conclusion.
A seahorse’s health is dependent on several factors and control mechanisms. Sadly most captive-bred seahorses die due to beginner’s error, lack of knowledge, or lack of proper maintenance and protocols.
Most issues within a seahorse aquarium can be resolved without death if caught early, however, it’s unfortunate that most cases end in death.
Hopefully, from the signs discussed above, more and more seahorse lovers will equip themselves to see these issues and fix them before it becomes fatal.
Early detection is essential in improving the lifespan of captive-bred seahorses.
