The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is celebrating the birth of more than 70 baby seahorses in its Shores and Aquarium area after a two-year hiatus, the zoo announced on social media.
“2025 has brought more exciting additions to our family here at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, including baby seahorses!” the zoo stated in a Facebook post. “The last time the Columbus Zoo hatched baby seahorses was in January 2023, so we’re thrilled to welcome these newest additions to our Shores & Aquarium region!”
Taylor Hann, assistant curator in the zoo’s Shores and Aquarium, reported that the new arrivals are all lined seahorses.
“It is the male seahorse that is responsible for gestation and birth,” Hann told NBC4. “The male seahorse carries fertilized eggs in a pouch, and fry are expelled from this pouch at birth.”
The zoo noted that because seahorses are born small, they will need time to mature before being viewed by guests.
In August, the zoo announced that a pair of weedy seadragons, relatives of seahorses, successfully hatched 26 offspring.
“The baby weedy sea dragons have been moved to a behind-the-scenes habitat as we prepare for breeding season for the adult weedy seadragons,” said Hann. “The adult weedy seadragons are viewable in the Australia and the Islands region. Breeding season for weedy seadragons depends on light cycle and water temperature.”