Frequently Asked Questions
What is Seahorse Grotto?
Seahorse Grotto is a conservation breeding facility in Montgomery County, Texas, dedicated to preserving unique Florida Keys seahorse genetics through captive breeding programs. We combine rigorous marine science with character-driven storytelling to engage the public in seahorse conservation and marine ecosystem protection.
Who is Blue Cobalt?
Blue Cobalt is our head Seahorse Steward and your guide to the magic of Seahorse Grotto. He's been keeping and studying seahorses for over 50 years, starting with comic book mail-order seahorses as a child. That childhood fascination grew into a lifelong passion and eventually into dedicated conservation work. Today, he runs this breeding facility focused on preserving seahorse genetics for wild population restoration.
How do I contact Blue Cobalt with questions?
Simply reply to any email from Seahorse Grotto, or send a message using our Contact page, and he'll personally respond. Blue reads every message we receive. 💙🌊
Where are you located?
Seahorse Grotto operates from Montgomery County, Texas.
Can I visit the facility?
Not at this time. Seahorse Grotto is a home-based operation, and we are unable to welcome the public. However, we share their world extensively through The Seahorse Letters, social media content, and educational materials. Think of everything we do as bringing the Grotto to you.
What conservation work do you do?
Our primary focus is preserving unique Florida Keys seahorse genetics through captive breeding. Wild seahorse populations face increasing pressures from habitat loss, climate change, and collection for traditional medicine. We're breeding seahorses from wild-caught Florida Keys specimens to maintain genetic diversity, with planned releases back to their native waters in Summer 2026. We also document breeding data, develop best practices for seahorse husbandry, and educate the public about marine conservation through character-driven storytelling and educational content.
Are purchases tax-deductible?
Currently, purchases are not tax-deductible yet, as we're in the process of acquiring 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. However, you're directly funding conservation through ethical breeding and our other wild population conservation and restoration programs.
Are you a nonprofit or a business?
We're a conservation breeding facility that operates as a sustainable business, and we're transitioning to a hybrid model. We're currently applying for nonprofit status through a fiscal sponsor, which will allow us to accept tax-deductible donations while maintaining our sustainable business operations.
Here's how this works:
Conservation operations: Everything we do - from breeding rare genetics to creating educational content to curating treasure boxes - is conservation work. Your purchases directly fund the entire operation.
Sustainable business model: Instead of relying solely on donations or grants, we've built revenue streams through products and experiences that people genuinely want. This creates stable, predictable funding for our conservation work.
Nonprofit status: Operating under nonprofit status will enable us to accept tax-deductible donations and offer tax benefits for certain memberships and programs, expanding our capacity to fund conservation work.
Long-term vision: We're building toward establishing our own independent 501(c)(3) foundation, growing from a small breeding facility into a larger organization with expanded conservation impact.
This hybrid approach combines the best of both worlds - entrepreneurial sustainability with nonprofit mission focus.
Why this hybrid approach?
Traditional nonprofits rely heavily on donations, grants, and fundraising campaigns. Pure businesses prioritize profit over mission. We're building something different:
Sustainable revenue: Products and subscriptions create stable funding independent of grant cycles or donor campaigns
Mission accountability: Nonprofit status ensures transparent operations focused on conservation impact, not profit extraction
Multiple support pathways: People can support us by purchasing beautiful products, making tax-deductible donations, or both
Independence and growth: Earned revenue gives us freedom to pursue our conservation vision while nonprofit status validates our work and opens doors to partnerships, grants, and larger funding opportunities
Scalability: Success in both areas - business and nonprofit - enables us to expand breeding programs, facility capacity, and conservation impact
We're proving that conservation can be funded through mission-driven commerce AND traditional nonprofit structures working together.
Still Have Questions?
If you don't see your question answered here, please reach out! We're happy to help.
Email: magic@seahorsegrotto.co
Contact Form: Click here
Social Media: @seahorsegrotto