GreyhoundTrish
New member
Do you miss having the color of the corals with having dwarves? That's what I'm afraid of. The seahorses are completely fascinating, but I also love the colors that draw so many people to reef tanks.
A Pair in a BioCube 8?
- Thread starter GreyhoundTrish
- Start date
GreyhoundTrish
New member
Thanks for the suggestion. That could work.
seas_inside
New member
Did you get the book today, GreyhoundTrish?
GreyhoundTrish
New member
Thanks. 
seas_inside
New member
Did you get the book?
GreyhoundTrish
New member
I got the book. I just rescued it from the FedEx depot. Since I forgot to change the address in shipping to my office. Dummy me. I use Amazon about once a week. 
seas_inside
New member
So...how do you like it so far? lol.... Well, read it -cover to cover! It will help a lot!! 
GreyhoundTrish
New member
Ok, Read it. Now the questions start. You guys ready for me?
1. I have officially decided I am HOOKED on seahorses and more fascinated than EVER after reading the book. I've even worked at our zoo's aquarium, and they don't have any seahorses. I must suggest they add a seahorse tank. LOL!
Ok.
2. They are quite the prolific little breeders. (And boy are those fry adorable) Anyway, as they breed and my population expands, um, what do I do to prevent overcrowding? Or, in other words, what do I do when I start to have too many in there and they keep on reproducing? What does everyone do with all those babies??
3. Will the stock lighting on the Bio-cube 8 be too bright, causing algae growth on my ponies? It came with two compact fluorescent lamps.1 - 18 watt 10,000k and 1-18 wat true actinmic 03, plus moon glow LED lights.
4. Am I correct that I do NOT want to use the moon lights with these guys?
5. What's everyone's favorite substrate? I liked the books suggestion of black sand.
6. The book seems to suggest not using LIVE sand and rock. So if I don't use live rock, what are other landscaping suggestions. Obviously I realize their normal "wild" living locations now.
7. For a hospital tank, what's your best suggestion? The book suggestions having one ready all the time, just in case. I will also stock up on the book's suggested "medicines". What do I need to have in the hospital as far as filtration, substrate, etc. Obviously Hitching posts. How do I keep the water, ready, right chemistry, salinity, temp, etc?
8. Ok, last one for tonight. With the Bio-Cube 8, do I have any risks of the little guys and gals getting caught in the filtration, etc?
9. Ok, one more. If live rock is too risky because of the critters that may come in it, should I use the bio-balls instead in this case?
Done now. Have fun answering the newbie questions!!
I am so hooked and I don't even have water yet. LOL!
1. I have officially decided I am HOOKED on seahorses and more fascinated than EVER after reading the book. I've even worked at our zoo's aquarium, and they don't have any seahorses. I must suggest they add a seahorse tank. LOL!
Ok.
2. They are quite the prolific little breeders. (And boy are those fry adorable) Anyway, as they breed and my population expands, um, what do I do to prevent overcrowding? Or, in other words, what do I do when I start to have too many in there and they keep on reproducing? What does everyone do with all those babies??
3. Will the stock lighting on the Bio-cube 8 be too bright, causing algae growth on my ponies? It came with two compact fluorescent lamps.1 - 18 watt 10,000k and 1-18 wat true actinmic 03, plus moon glow LED lights.
4. Am I correct that I do NOT want to use the moon lights with these guys?
5. What's everyone's favorite substrate? I liked the books suggestion of black sand.
6. The book seems to suggest not using LIVE sand and rock. So if I don't use live rock, what are other landscaping suggestions. Obviously I realize their normal "wild" living locations now.
7. For a hospital tank, what's your best suggestion? The book suggestions having one ready all the time, just in case. I will also stock up on the book's suggested "medicines". What do I need to have in the hospital as far as filtration, substrate, etc. Obviously Hitching posts. How do I keep the water, ready, right chemistry, salinity, temp, etc?
8. Ok, last one for tonight. With the Bio-Cube 8, do I have any risks of the little guys and gals getting caught in the filtration, etc?
9. Ok, one more. If live rock is too risky because of the critters that may come in it, should I use the bio-balls instead in this case?
Done now. Have fun answering the newbie questions!!
I am so hooked and I don't even have water yet. LOL!
seas_inside
New member
Great!! I was definitely hooked after reading the book too, but just have patience and it will all work out.
This is not something you should worry about yet, most people have a 100% mortality rate when first trying to rear. Also, in an 8G, you can easily keep 30 or more. When it gets a lot bigger than that, I'm sure you can sell them to other hobbyists on seahorse.org.
Hmm...that's 2.25 watts per gallon, which is fine IMO.
If you have them, you're lucky-I would definitely use them! I don't know why you wouldn't want to, you can observe them at night.
I use and like black sand, I don't know which I would use with out it.
Actually, there is a dwarf safe supplier of live rock and sand and macros..... it's seawaterexpress.com I HIGHLY recommend it, I got my LR from there and also red grape macroalgae.
I like to use a 2.5G for QT and hospital (and nursery too if necessary) When you tank is cycling, put in ANOTHER small filter so it'll be ready for the small tank. You use the same water from the main tank. In the hopital/QT tank all I would have would be some hitching posts no substrate.
The small filter from the main tank will be ready to take on the bioload from the small tank. You use the same water.
I'm not familiar with the bio-cubes, but you can put some screen like stuff or sponge over it if you think it's a risk.
Well, see above and get from seawaterexpress.com
Oh yeah, a few more things. The meds I would have on hand at all times would be: Neomycin, TripleSulfa, Febendazole, Meth Blue, and Formalin. Nothing else is necessary. You can do what the book says and get those others, but it's not necessary. And unfortuantly in dwarves, when you recognize a sympton, it's often too late, but these meds will definitely help.
Also, I would correct a few things on how you treat and QT the dwarves when they are shipped to you. IF you get captive bred---from seahorse.org (which I hope you do), you do not need to treat them with anything, you just need to observe them. No freshwater baths, or formalin or anything like that. You just need to acclimate them to the 2.5G (also hopsital) and observe them for about 2 weeks while feeding them of course. You do this because you don't know your dwarves, and your dwarves don't know you. You should watch each and every one to make sure they are fine. Do you know how to acclimate? I can help you if you dont....
Hope this helps!
GreyhoundTrish
New member
Input. More input. Need more input. (Remember THAT movie?)
Tell me more about acclimating.
Tell me more about acclimating.
seas_inside
New member
In acclimating, you get the animals used to your water quality.
1. When you get the shipping back, get another big bag and pour all the contents into it. If a horse gets stranded out of the water, wet your fingers with saltwater and gently pick it up and put it into the other bag.
2. Float the bag in the QT tank so the temperature equalizes.
3. Every 10-20 minutes, release a cup of water into the bag with the horses.
4. When there are apprx. equal amounts from the shipping water and the new water, take some of the water out and continue adding more water from the tank.
5. When there is almost 100% of the QT tank in the bag, you can release the horses.
1. When you get the shipping back, get another big bag and pour all the contents into it. If a horse gets stranded out of the water, wet your fingers with saltwater and gently pick it up and put it into the other bag.
2. Float the bag in the QT tank so the temperature equalizes.
3. Every 10-20 minutes, release a cup of water into the bag with the horses.
4. When there are apprx. equal amounts from the shipping water and the new water, take some of the water out and continue adding more water from the tank.
5. When there is almost 100% of the QT tank in the bag, you can release the horses.
GreyhoundTrish
New member
Ok. Thanks. You simplified it a bit.
seas_inside
New member
Not a problem. 
If you read over this whole thread a few times, your book, and this: http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/dwarfKeeping.shtml website , I think you'll have a pretty good understanding of the basics of dwarf keeping (if not more)
Got any more questions?
If you read over this whole thread a few times, your book, and this: http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/dwarfKeeping.shtml website , I think you'll have a pretty good understanding of the basics of dwarf keeping (if not more)
Got any more questions?
GreyhoundTrish
New member
Um, well, actually I'm planning on going back throuh the book when I'm near the computer, so you might want to enjoy the peace and quiet until I do that.
seas_inside, you mentioned all the meds. Isn't neomycyn a prescription only medicine? Any suggestions on where to get it. I assume you don't mean the cream.
by the way, I have a three gallon cycled and ready to go, I'm just going to practice with the bbs for a while before I order. Yes I have read the book though over and over, Very addictive!
Thanks,
Jill
by the way, I have a three gallon cycled and ready to go, I'm just going to practice with the bbs for a while before I order. Yes I have read the book though over and over, Very addictive!
Thanks,
Jill
seas_inside
New member
Actually, neomycin is found in "NeoSporin" and it is perfectly safe to use for aquarium uses. So if you have Neosporin on hand, it would be fine- unless you want to buy it from seahorsesource.
GreyhoundTrish
New member
Sorry I've been away. Went to the mountains for the holiday, but managed to visit the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg TN, and it was AWESOME, even had a seahorse tank, so I got to drool over some of the bigger varieties, and my souvenier? It's a BEAUTIFUL Seahorse, copper, hanging, thingie, with suncatching stones, etc. for our front porch. I gave DH puppy dog eyes, and said, but honey, I'm about to start raising seahorses, this will be so appropriate for our front porch. I promise picks when I'm settled. We had an eight hour drive home today.
