Buying Seahorses

[ahmed_iAM]

I am setting up a Macro algae tank currently and thought a pair of seahorse would be a good fit since its low flow and will have a lot of cops in it(no other fish so need a source of phosphate and nitrate).
I will be putting my soft coral frags in this tank as well. I have read the other posts about where to buy them but where can I get them that's not for an outrageous price? $100 for a pair of black lined seahorses seems a bit extreme based on how much they seem to breed. Anyways does anyone know of a place that I can get them for a reasonable price? I live 2 hr from DC so the Northern VA and Maryland area is fine. Thanks.

 

[rayjay]

Unfortunately there is more to seahorse keeping that putting a pair in a macro tank.
To learn more about their basic needs click the links at the bottom of "My Thoughts on Seahorse Keeping
As for pricing, you get what you pay for.
If you want cheap, you can buy tank raised imports with much lower survival rates.
True captive bred costs more but the odds of success are much better.
I don't understand your comment "how much they seem to breed".
While seahorse broods can be very large (or small), They don't all survive and it is labour intensive to get any reasonable survival rates to the point of sexual maturity.
If it wasn't for the cheap influx of tank raised imports there would probably be more true captive bred breeders, but it's hard to compete with cheap.

 

[kudagirl]

+1 to what Ray has said,you can get small seahorses cheap but you may buy four and after a week you will be lucky if you have any left,I know because this happened to me when I first started out in keeping seahorses.

You need to buy captive bred seahorses ,as long as you keep the water right and feed the right food then you will have them for a few years if you look after them.

 

[TamiW]

I have read the other posts about where to buy them but where can I get them that's not for an outrageous price? $100 for a pair of black lined seahorses seems a bit extreme based on how much they seem to breed. Anyways does anyone know of a place that I can get them for a reasonable price? I live 2 hr from DC so the Northern VA and Maryland area is fine. Thanks.

You are not wrong that seahorses breed easily, but that's the tip of the iceberg. It's the raising part that is the tough part.

The first issue is cost. Seahorses don't take flake food or any other inexpensive food. I get my food at near wholesale prices these days, and I still spend a few hundred per brood on food. Just food, not the water or any other incidentals. They also grow somewhat slow, meaning you've got to hang on to them for a while.

Finally, ethical breeders won't sell them until they've reached sexual maturity, so that takes even longer to grow out and costs more in food, salt, electricity and effort.

$100 for a pair of healthy, true captive bred seahorses isn't outrageous, it's a steal. The only ones you will find cheaper are immature juveniles that have an extremely poor survival rate.

I can't link to my site, it's against reef central's policies, but if you find my site, you will be able to find more details on this subject specifically.

 

[ahmed_iAM]

Thanks guys. Will let you guys know. Have you guys had luck feeding seahorses black worms or white worms?

 

[rayjay]

I wouldn't even be bothered as they wouldn't have a high enough DHA profile for seahorses.

 

[Shanksfaml]

want to purchase Barbour's

want to purchase Barbour's

Anyone know where I can get some Barbour Sea Horses right now? I live in Seattle but, I would feel safe doing mail order with reputable company.

 

[rayjay]

Sorry, I don't know of any reputable breeder with any at this time.