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ILoveSeahorses
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http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/SeahorseFactsAndInfo.shtml
Note that the temperature guide there is a bit off.
Basically, non-dwarf horses are going to need a tank of at least 29 gallons. In the US, the only possible exception would be H. fuscus, which you could keep in a slightly smaller tank. If you want to keep more than a pair of horses, or the horses w/ any other fish, then you will need to go bigger on the tank. The lighting will be dependent on what you want to keep w/ the horses; the horses don't really care, but you want to think about how much heat the lighting gives off. IMO it is in the best interest of the horses if you simulate a "natural" day/night cycle, as the horses seem to pair bond and explore based upon the time of day. Skimmers are good as horses create a lot of waste. You don't want any power heads or filters that could injure a horse's tail, but you do want some flow in the tank. Often, the horses seem to like to "play" in areas of higher flow, but ned areas where they can hitch and escape where there is less flow.
Note that the temperature guide there is a bit off.
Basically, non-dwarf horses are going to need a tank of at least 29 gallons. In the US, the only possible exception would be H. fuscus, which you could keep in a slightly smaller tank. If you want to keep more than a pair of horses, or the horses w/ any other fish, then you will need to go bigger on the tank. The lighting will be dependent on what you want to keep w/ the horses; the horses don't really care, but you want to think about how much heat the lighting gives off. IMO it is in the best interest of the horses if you simulate a "natural" day/night cycle, as the horses seem to pair bond and explore based upon the time of day. Skimmers are good as horses create a lot of waste. You don't want any power heads or filters that could injure a horse's tail, but you do want some flow in the tank. Often, the horses seem to like to "play" in areas of higher flow, but ned areas where they can hitch and escape where there is less flow.
What kind of power head do you suggest for a seahorse tank? I have the space for a 24x24x24 tank, I could go go 30x30x24 but that would be the max. I want to place the tank next to my DT, maybe even hook it into my my main tanks sump, that way I would only need one skimmer. I have seen a few Seahorse tanks on line, not many. Most of them I have seen, seem to have grass and stuff growing on the bottom. Is this a must have, I don't mind doing that I just want to know what I need in the tank to make the seahoreses happy. Can you have Pipe fish in the same tank? I have been thinking about this for awhile and was in our LFS the other day and a man and his wife was in there ( I stayed out of the conversation they were having with another man in the store) they said they were going to try and keep seahorses again, this would be their third time. Now this is a couple with means, meaning they can spend what they want, only the best for their seahorse tank and they have failed twice, so it kinda makes me afraid to try, I don't want to kill them.
DanU
New member
You make a very valid point with the couple in the fish store. The key for a person new to seahorses is to setup a simple tank with good filtration, both biological and mechanical, keep the temperatures in the 72 to 74 F range, select the most safe tank mates and clean up crew, feed 2 to 3 times a day and make sure of the source of you seahorses. I have seen many newbies succeed with seahorses and many very experienced reef keepers fail. The key is to go with what is known to work and not try to "break the rules" or go out on the edge.
The point on the grass growing on the bottom: Most seahorses are not reef creatures. They are often found in estuaries and sometimes in areas near reefs. In general, seahorses love grassy areas. These areas provide their primary diet of various shrimps and other juvenile food items. In our tanks, macro algae is easier than real grasses. Seahorses don't mind one over the other. If you can work macros into your tank, the seahorses will love it.
Dan
The point on the grass growing on the bottom: Most seahorses are not reef creatures. They are often found in estuaries and sometimes in areas near reefs. In general, seahorses love grassy areas. These areas provide their primary diet of various shrimps and other juvenile food items. In our tanks, macro algae is easier than real grasses. Seahorses don't mind one over the other. If you can work macros into your tank, the seahorses will love it.
Dan
Jaguar
New member
And as being one of the most knowledgeable people in the continental US about seahorses DanU brings up everything valid.
Get informed, and keep things through and simple.
Seahorses are one of the 'supposed' hardest saltwater fish to keep. It's gotten alot easier. Those of us where our true love in saltwater is in seahorses have worked to make it such.
Definately start with the basics, and if your familiar with reefs and reefkeeping, take seahorses as if you were looking @ saltwater for the 1st time and start anew.
Best of Luck!
Get informed, and keep things through and simple.
Seahorses are one of the 'supposed' hardest saltwater fish to keep. It's gotten alot easier. Those of us where our true love in saltwater is in seahorses have worked to make it such.
Definately start with the basics, and if your familiar with reefs and reefkeeping, take seahorses as if you were looking @ saltwater for the 1st time and start anew.
Best of Luck!
With the advice you have given me, the only problems I foresee is the feeding 2 to 3 times a day. I would be able to feed in the morning before work and again around 4:30pm and then again before bed, would this be good enough? The temperature of 72 to 74 might be a problem, I will have to just set the tank up and then play with it till I can keep the temputures at that level.Keeping the tank at 72 to 74 degrees may mean keeping the seahorse tank seperate from my main tanks sump, meaning, set up the seahorse tank with its own sump. What kind of lights would be best for the tank, T5s, a refugeuim light? Sounds to me like a good seahorse tank would almost be like a refugeium (sp) tank. As far as tank mates that i want for the seahorses, clean up crew and thats about it, I want the seahorses to thrive before I think about anything else. I would like to put some zoas and polyps in the tank, but that depends on the light you recommend for the tank, can't heat the water up to much. Temputure is something I will have to just play with till I get it right before getting the seahorses. As far as the power head for the tank goes, would the return line from the sump provide enough water movement for the tank or is something else needed? As far as buying Seahorses, I am aways from that point, but when the time comes I will post again for ya'lls recommendations.
Worked for me until I retired.
That would be the proper way to do it.
Many have to use chillers to keep this in line.
Seahorses only need enough light to see by, and refugium conditions would be ideal.
The fewer the type of tankmates, the more you increase your odds of success.
Won't come into play if you decide to go with a chiller. With a chiller you provide as much light as required for the corals, grasses and macro that you intend to keep.
That would depend on how much flow your return provides.
I use both so that I provide low, medium, and high areas of flow, allowing the seahorses to pick whatever area they want at any given time. (hitches in each area)
You'll NEVER find a better place to buy from than Dan at seahorsesource. In addition, you will get truthful facts and information if you need help with horses bought from him, something not many LFS's will ever be able to provide, at least in the near future.
Thanks for that info, sounds like some good advice. I know what the word hitches mean, something for the seahorses to hold onto. What I don't know, lol, what are good hitches. Just one more question, for now lol. I want to get a tank big enough for two pairs of seahorses, can you have two different breeds of seahorses in one tank? I looked at that web site seahorsesource, good web site. I am going to make this happen.
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