Cross Breeds - Can sea horses be kept as pets? I've seen them in pet stores, but can it be done without killing them?

Can sea horses be kept as pets? I've seen them in pet stores, but can it be done without killing them?

I think having a pet sea horse would be interesting and exotic. Does anyone know if this is possible? I've heard that their tanks need to be quite large, but how large? (I'd prefer measurments rather than gallons) Do they really need live food or can you buy jars of sea horse food like fish food? How much do they cost? Would I be able to keep it alive if I attempted to own one? Do they require confusing levels of different stuff in their water and all that? CAN IT BE DONE BY A BEGINNER??? If so, which species is reccomended and not endangered?

Public Comments

well yes they can and you dont have to kill them first cause then you cant keep them as pets cause there dead
I dont think you should have them becuase it might die and if it cost a lot of money your going to feel bad but if you really want one buy one you should buy like 2 or 4 so one wouldnt be lonely.
I'm sure they can be kept as pets. If you are a beginner, you should probably do a lot of reading about them. They would probably be hard to take care of though because they have to live in salt water. I don't think they would sell endangered species in pet stores. I have attached a link all about caring for them. hope it helps! ;)
If you don't know what you are doing, please do not get sea horses. Why do you want something "interesting and exotic" do you think that makes you cooler or something? Adopt a cat or dog from the animal shelter and save it's life--that's the coolest thing you can do.
yup, it can be done as a beginner though it is not suggested its extremly hard , my parents did it and they lived for two years-pretty damn good for starters, For all your fish questions go to: www.myfishtank.net it is the best place on the web sign up and then proceed to forums as questions you have and help others read sticky's to find out about fish needs to buy food/and other supplies go to: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/
Seahorse are VERY hard to keep alive...not something a beginner would be able to do.
You could most likely do it , just consider that salt water tanks are very high maintenance, and can be expensive. But give it a try if it is what you truly want and think you could pull it off.
Well if they have them in pet stores then they can probably be a pet but you would have to study its natural enviroment of a seahorse because if it is in an enviroment that seahorses can live in and it isnt messing up its natural life then you have a better chance of it living longer then if it was in an inviroment that isnt so great for it to live in.
I really wouldn't recommend it for a beginner. Our office has 6 saltwater tanks that are over 300 gallons each (because the boss is a real fish lover). Our aquarium maintenance technician absolutely refuses to make a seahorse tank for us because of the amount of upkeep and the delicateness of the seahorses. And he deals with approximately 600 saltwater tanks total in our area. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2004/fishb.htm
yes but they are very hard to keep alive and are mostly men't for pro's because saltwater fish are very hard to keep alive