box fish/ seahorse -compatabile?

[Charlie Davidson]

Guess title says all..
I have a 29 g i am setting up with seahorses.. (2 right now)
I have always like the little yellow boxfish but heard they needed a peacefull tank.. I just don't know if boxfish work "pick" on seahorse?

 

[ann83]

I would not recommend putting a boxfish with seahorses. Plus, your tank is going to be fully stocked with 2 seahorses in a 29 gallon.

What "little yellow boxfish" are you speaking of exactly? I can't think of one that would be okay in a 29, even without seahorses.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Just 2 seahorse.. ( maybe 1 more)
these box fish stay @1" (not the large one) I will see if I can find pic..

 

[krazeekiddie]

By Boxfish you mean cowfish right?

Deff NOT suitable for a SH tank.

They do release deadly toxins as well when stressed. 2 seahorses & a cowfish in a 29 gallon tank spells stress to me!

Also, I think the average size for a box/cow fish is at least 3 inches. & I alos think a minimum of 30-40 gallons is required as well. At the least.

=) I hope that helped, let me know if I am not thinking of the same fish, but either way, seahorses should be kept species specific anyways, especiially in an aquarium that small!

Good Luck!! Heather

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Not a cowfish.. these fish are 1/2", adult is @ 2" ..
From what I read, they are very peaceful.. I was afraid it my harrass the seahorse.. so-- better safe than sorry.
AND like you said.. this tank, really should be species specific!!
:thumbsup:

 

[krazeekiddie]

=)

yea, I thought maybe cowfish because they are also a "box fish" and come in a yellow variety. Yellow boxfish!

Seahorses can just get out-competed for food as well as being picked on by even peaceful tank mates, plus they are so sensitive to different pathogens that they are best left by themselves in a nice peaceful tank!

Good Choice! =)

 

[Charlie Davidson]

sounds kind bad--- but The seahorses I have , have lived in a 15g "alage srubber" .. it had pretty high flow. But they didn't seem to mind it.. they just hung on to alage and hunted around in it all day long..

 

[TikiDan]

in my seahorse tank I have two h. Reidi and a mandarin goby. All seem happy

 

[krazeekiddie]

Yea, I have never seen anyoe have an issue with Mandarin's & seahorses.

=)

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Tiki, what sized tank.. Are pods doing well ? I want a mandrin.. but waiting to see best way to feed one.. I had one many years ago in a 125.. stocked much like yours.. But, I feel it slowly starved to death pods just could keep up..

 

[TikiDan]

luckily my mandarin eats frozen so he just picks at the food the horses don't eat. As for tank size they are in a 34 gallon red sea max tank

 

[urbanrat84]

Charlie, can you post the latin name of the box fish you are talking about?

Is it either of these:

Ostracion cubicus - see pic

Lactoria cornuta - see pic of juvenile at bottom of page

As cowfish grow they will pick at the seahorses and they have sharp teeth they use for scraping - they are omnivorous and love nori and cos lettuce. They also have voracious appetites and must be kept well fed so they won't nip at other slow moving inhabitants. As seahorses can grow algae on their bodies its not a good idea to keep them together.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Desided not to get one.