The cutest pic I ever took of my seahorses!
- Thread starter vlangel
- Start date
vlangel
Premium Member
She has only in the last month manifested her pinto coloring. I bought her as a pinto in November but she arrived almost all white. Now that she has turned this color she pretty much stays this way except the big dark patches vary in darkness. Sometimes when the dark patches are more purple-ish gray they have black polka-dots in them which does give her a piebald look. We love her coloring and her inquisitive personality too.
rsepiphyte
Member
I have seen one with piebald coloring. Where did you purchase her from? Is the color genetically inherited or does it have to do with what they eat?
vlangel
Premium Member
I bought her from Dan and Abbie at Seahorse Source. They told me she was a pinto before she arrived. She is eating Hikari mysis which is also what they feed. Their enviroment can influence the shade of coloring but I think their coloring (stripes, saddle patches or pinto) is genetic.
vlangel
Premium Member
I know, I just love them! They have the greatest personalities.
Han Solo
New member
I was just wondering what you feed your seahorses? I have two Erectus and they've been great for a year, but have never turned anything but black and grey. I heard Vibrance is a good supplement but am curious as to why I and II are much more expensive than others. Thanks vlangel!
I've been in the seahorse hobby now for about 15 years and have NEVER found that what food you feed, affects the colour the seahorse exhibits.
Seahorses change their colour according to how they perceive their surroundings so that they "blend" in making it harder for predators to see them.
I've never been able to change a "non coloured" seahorse to a coloured one, but, have been able to change back seahorses that were coloured and lost their colouring by putting them in a tank with sky blue paint on the bottom, back and ends of the tank, with all rock removed, and just artificial plants in the tank.
Others may have found other ways to succeed but from what I've read on the seahorse forums over the years, the usual situation is to buy a coloured seahorse and then have it loose much of, or all of the colour it came with.
Seahorses change their colour according to how they perceive their surroundings so that they "blend" in making it harder for predators to see them.
I've never been able to change a "non coloured" seahorse to a coloured one, but, have been able to change back seahorses that were coloured and lost their colouring by putting them in a tank with sky blue paint on the bottom, back and ends of the tank, with all rock removed, and just artificial plants in the tank.
Others may have found other ways to succeed but from what I've read on the seahorse forums over the years, the usual situation is to buy a coloured seahorse and then have it loose much of, or all of the colour it came with.
vlangel
Premium Member
I only feed my seahorses frozen mysis as a staple and occasionally live enriched brine shrimp or live enriched ghost shrimp.
I agree with rayjay about seahorses blending in with their enviroment. From what I have read they are born with certain pigments and their surroundings influence how the pigments manifest themselves.
vlangel
Premium Member
Thay are truly charming and enchanting creatures but they have special needs and those must be met if one is to keep them successfully long term.
