Horsing around

Tiger Tail Seahorse Hippocampus comes.

What does it take to set up a seahorse exhibit? Well, apart from seahorses and the all important shrimp on which these fish (yes, they are fish indeed) feed on, you'd need some careful coordination with the people who've been researching on these very popular animals.

A marine biologist with Underwater World Singapore (UWS), Yab Han Joe, shared that maintaining a comfortable (or otherwise lethal) temperature is one of the most important factors in creating a suitable seahorse habitat. The exhibit tanks at UWS are maintained at an average temperature of 27 deg C. He explains that the temperature of the water cannot fall below 26 deg C or breech 29 deg C, or the seahorses might be unable to cope and perish. That aside, other factors such as water salinity are less of a concern, as Singapore waters close to shore often fluctuate in salinity levels due to heavy rains and high surface runoff.

The natural habitats of these seahorses also have to be recognised. For example Tiger Tail Seahorse Hippocampus comes often hang around sea whips and hardcorals, whereares the Hedgehog Seahorse Hippocampus spinossisimus prefer safey amongst sea grass. The exhibits at UWS, showcase this.

Hedgehog Seahorse Hippocampus spinosissimus.

Then finally, the seahorses. All seahorses on exhibit at UWS have been bred in captivity by seahorse researchers at TMSI, at their research facility on St. John's Island. Bred seahorses are also used in an ex situ study to discern the health of waters and suitability of habitats. Seahorse specimens controlled in an enclosure are placed on specific sites around Singapore's shores where they can be observed and monitored on a regular basis. Apart from serving as an evironmental indicator of the health of our waters, researchers are also learning of suitable habitats/locations where the seahorses may be introduced into the wild.