Algo Seahorse #168 - Volume 9

Generally seahorses have rapid growth rates, early age of maturity, and short generation times. Seahorses live for a year to about five years, depending on the species, with smaller species having shorter lifespans. The longest known lifespan for a wild seahorse is seven years for a White’s seahorse in Port Stephens, Australia. Their highest risk of mortality comes as planktonic young, with much higher survival after settlement. Young seahorses settle to the bottom after several days to weeks, according to the species – 14 to 18 days for a pygmy seahorse and four to six weeks for the largest species – and then may not move much thereafter.