Daddy's Boys: Baby Seahorses Go On Display at SEA LIFE Blackpool

Meet SEA LIFE Blackpool’s latest new arrivals – these amazing baby seahorses are real daddy’s boys. The tiny big bellied seahorses – the size of a 5p coin – are just four weeks old and will be going on display for the first time this weekend.

Seahorses are unique in the natural world in that their fathers carry the babies during pregnancy and give birth.

The miniature sea creatures were carefully collected by aquarists at SEA LIFE Blackpool after their birth and removed to a separate nursery tank to prevent them becoming someone’s dinner.

In the wild, baby seahorses look after themselves from the moment they are born and they will take around nine months to reach the size of their parents.

The breeding of the seahorses is part of SEA LIFE Blackpool’s continuing conservation work, as part of its Breed, Rescue, Protect campaign.

Scott Blacker, head aquarist at the attraction, said: “It’s always great to have new births at SEA LIFE Blackpool and these young seahorses really are beautiful and enchanting creatures.

“They are already growing rapidly, and that’s down to the large amount of food they eat, and it’s fascinating to see the way they develop.

“They are thriving and being cared for in a nursery tank, so that we can keep a close eye on them.

“In the natural world there is no parental care. The youngsters come into the world and have to fend for themselves from that moment.”

Matthew Titherington, general manager at SEA LIFE Blackpool, added: “All the team are excited by these new arrivals.

“At the moment their home is a special nursery tank in our behind-the-scenes laboratory area.

“Seahorses are wonderful creatures and we are looking forward to putting these youngsters on show this weekend for our visitors, who will be as fascinated as we are by them.”

Seahorses range in size from 1.5 to 35.5 cm (0.6 to 14.0 in). They are named because of the way they look, with bent necks and long-snouted heads followed by their distinctive trunk and tail.

The male seahorse has a pouch on the ventral, or front-facing, side of his tail. When mating, the female seahorse deposits up to 1,500 eggs in that pouch.

The male carries the eggs for between nine and 45 days until the seahorses emerge fully developed, but very small.

Before mating takes place seahorses may court for several days in one of nature’s most serene and elegant displays. 

During this time, they may change colour, swim side by side holding tails or grip the same strand of sea grass with their tails and wheel around in unison in what is known as a ‘predawn dance’.
 
Last year SEA LIFE raised more than £300,000 to support the Trust's projects and partner organisations around the world.