why do seahorses wrap their tails around stick?

[brandoniscool]

Hi! My name is Giniah.I'm in Mr.Rutherford's 3rd grade class.I am really curios about why seahorses wrap their tails around sticks.I would like to have a tank in my house,and I would like to have a seahorse in the tank.So,I would need to find sea sticks to wrap their tails around.Thank you for answering my question.

 

[JLynn]

Hi Giniah! Seahorses wrap their tails around sticks because they are relatively weak swimmers; they only have 1 fin, after all. Wrapping their tails around sticks- or hitching, as we call it- lets them rest when they are tired of swimming around. "Sea sticks" can be anything a seahorse could wrap their tail around. Gorgonian corals are a popular choice, as well as macro algae. If you don't want gorgonians or macro algae, you can also use fake corals. For more information on basic seahorse care, and a list of "sea sticks" that are safe for seahorses (some corals will sting seahorses that hitch on them, which can be fatal), check out seahorse.org or fusedjaw.com. Both of those websites have lots of good information and advice.

 

[Elysia]

Just to be clear, seahorses have four fins: one on their back, which is the most noticeable; one small one below their belly; and two on their head, in the area where a human's temples are. They are very interesting animals!