Editing Seahorse (section)

==Aquaria==
{{more citations needed|section|date=January 2018}}While many [[aquarium]] [[hobbyists]] keep them as pets, seahorses collected from the wild tend to fare poorly in home aquaria. Many eat only live foods such as [[brine shrimp]] and are prone to stress, which damages their [[immune system]]s and makes them susceptible to disease.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seahorse Stress, Disease & Health Problems {{!}} Ocean Rider Kona |url=https://seahorse.com/seahorse-stress-disease-health-problems/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Seahorse.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In recent years, however, [[captive breeding]] has become more popular. Such seahorses survive better in captivity, and are less likely to carry diseases. They eat frozen [[mysidacea]] ([[crustaceans]]) that are readily available from aquarium stores,<ref name="fusedjaw.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.fusedjaw.com/food-and-nutrition/seahorse-foods-and-feeding/ |title=Seahorse and Pipefish Foods &#124; Tami Weiss |publisher=Fusedjaw.com |date=25 June 2005 |access-date=11 November 2009}}</ref> and do not experience the stress of moving out of the wild. Although captive-bred seahorses are more expensive, they take no toll on wild populations.

Seahorses should be kept in an aquarium with low flow and placid tank mates. They are slow feeders, so fast, aggressive feeders will leave them without food.<ref name="fusedjaw.com"/> Seahorses can coexist with many species of shrimp and other [[bottom feeder|bottom-feeding]] creatures. [[goby|Gobies]] also make good tank-mates. Keepers are generally advised to avoid [[eel]]s, [[tang (fish)|tangs]], [[triggerfish]], [[squid]], [[octopus]], and [[sea anemone]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fusedjaw.com/aquariumcare/seahorse-tankmates-whats-safe-whats-not/ |title=Seahorse Tankmates &#124; Will Wooten |publisher=Fusedjaw.com |date=25 June 2004 |access-date=11 November 2009}}</ref>

Water quality is very important for the survival of seahorses in an aquarium. They are delicate species which should not be added to a new tank. The water parameters are recommended to be as follows although these fish may acclimatise to different water over time: 
*Temperature: {{convert|23|–|28|C|F}} 
*pH: 8.1–8.4 
*Ammonia: 0&nbsp;mg/L (0&nbsp;ppm) (0.01&nbsp;mg/L (0.01&nbsp;ppm) may be tolerated for short periods) 
*Nitrite: 0&nbsp;mg/L (0&nbsp;ppm) (0.125&nbsp;mg/L (0.125&nbsp;ppm) may be tolerated for short periods) 
*S.G.: 1.021–1.024 at {{convert|23|–|24|C|F}}{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}
A water-quality problem will affect fish behaviour and can be shown by clamped fins, reduced feeding, erratic swimming, and gasping at the surface.<ref>[http://www.seahorseaquariums.ie/info/27%20How%20to%20care%20for%20Seahorses%20&%20Pipefish.pdf How to care for Seahorses & Pipefish]. seahorseaquariums.ie</ref> Seahorses require vertical swimming space to perform reproductive functions and to prevent depth-related health conditions like gas bubble disease, so a [[Refugium (fishkeeping)|refugium]] that is at least 20 inches by 51 centimeters deep is recommended inside an aquarium.<ref name="y218">{{cite web |last=Giwojna |first=Pete | title=Choosing Seahorse Species for the Reef | website=Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine | url=https://www.tfhmagazine.com/articles/saltwater/a-seahorse-reef-part-two-choosing-your-seahorses-full-article | access-date=May 28, 2024}}</ref>

Animals sold as "[[freshwater]] seahorses" are usually the closely related [[pipefish]], of which a few species live in the lower reaches of rivers. The supposed true "freshwater seahorse" called ''[[Hippocampus aimei|H.&nbsp;aimei]]'' is not a valid species, but a [[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]] sometimes used for [[Barbour's seahorse|Barbour's]] and [[hedgehog seahorse]]s. The latter, which is often confused with the former, can be found in [[estuarine]] environments, but is not actually a freshwater fish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=25974&genusname=Hippocampus&speciesname=spinosissimus |title=Hippocampus spinosissimus |publisher=Fishbase |access-date=11 November 2009}}</ref>