While most of us were busy saying goodbye to 2018, Ripley’s Aquarium staff were saying hello to the newest members of their aquatic family.

Ripley’s Aquarium Canada proudly announced the birth of a herd of lined seahorses Tuesday – the aquarium’s own New Year’s Day babies.

Eagerly watched over by the facility’s husbandry team, Ripley’s said the jelly bean sized babies were born at the aquarium early in the morning as part of their ongoing conservation and education program.

Seahorses are one of the few species where the males bear the unborn young, carrying up to 2000 babies in a pouch on their stomachs. Pregnancy can last between 10 to 25 days depending on the species.

Ripley’s breeds a variety of animals including cownose rays, seahorses, moon jellyfish and bamboo sharks, with the breeding programs contributing to scientific research. Currently the aquarium has several in-house bred species on display including spot prawns, chain cat sharks and clownfish.

The new baby seahorses will be on public display later this month.