Does it hurt when a Male Sea Horse gives birth

[brandoniscool]

Hello my name is Kaylee i'm in Mr. Rutherford's 3rd grade class. I have a 160 g tank (including the sump) in my class. I wanted to know if it hurts the male sea horse when he gives birth. I think it's good to know b/c if your Male Sea Horse is in pain or acting weird.

 

[kudagirl]

Hi Kaylee,

The male seahorse is in no pain when he gives birth,the way his body goes in and out is to push all the fry out of his pouch.After he has given birth to the fry,he will go some where quite to rest.

 

[Elysia]

Kaylee,

I am not sure if male seahorses are in pain when they give birth to baby seahorses. I do know that a male's pouch can look greatly distended when it is full of fry, and he often looks uncomfortable a day or two before the fry are released. Male seahorses will often stop eating for a few days before birthing the fry. Furthermore, all the crunching and pushing he does on the morning of the release is tiring for the male, although that evening he may be up to his usual tricks, doing his dance with his mate.

 

[Allmost]

pain is subjective.

specially when it comes to animals.

we do not know how they process "Pain" or even if they do have "pain" sensors.

does it hurt the fish when it bites on a fishing hook ?

Pain in general, in humans and other creatures, is a very deep and hard to understand concept.

 

[Menace2Sobriety]

I don't know if seahorses or any fish for that matter feel pain... I do know that I wish I had a teacher like Mr. Rutherford when I was in grade 3! Would have been awesome to have a reef tank in my classroom! Looked at your website! Teach has great things going on for you kids!

Rob