same-sex seahorse pair

[Gluestick]

I was wondering, and I'm new to seahorses, so this is just a question, if I do not want to breed my seahorses, can I keep a pair of females or a pair of males? I am kind of nervous about the babies getting stuck on the pouch and then I have to suction them out - what if I kill the male in the process??? Anyway, can keeping a same-sex pair be okay? I know the horses don't like to be alone

 

[hawkfish21]

I don't think it will be a problem.

 

[Swanwillow]

YES!!!!!

whoot. its actually recommended, if you don't want to start culling babies as they are born, or don't want tankmates that will eat them (as I have)

there are two things to watch for keeping them in pairs like that though: females can potentially get egg bound, but normally they'll just drop the eggs on the sand courting eachother.
Males can potentially develop the normal problems associated with them: pouch bubbles.

so, pick which one you would have less problems 'dealing' with, and there ya go.

IMO-I think that the male looks nicer, with the more streamlined body.

 

[Gluestick]

tell me more about pouch bubbles
thanks for the info!

 

[Swanwillow]

I'm not really the one to talk about that, my male got bubbles in his pouch once, and has since made a full recovery.

when males are in tanks they sometimes get bubbles in thier pouches. its called pouch emphasema (sp?) it can happen because of micro bubbles from a skimmer/filter, or for other, not quite known reasons. AND it doesn't happen all the time, kinda a hit or a miss. There are lots of articles on seahorse.org on the treatment for it. recurring is bad, or you can have an isolated (so far!!!) case like mine.

the long and short of it, bubbles get trapped in the pouch of the male and can't get out, so in one form or another, you get to help him. Usually with the tip of a plastic-ended bobby pin. I just used the tip of my glass hydrometer... you slightly pull open the pouch under water, and the bubbles come out.

and thats the SHORT version.

 

[Gluestick]

Thank you, I will check out seahorse.org
The main reason why I don't want to have a male/female pair is because the babies sometime can get trapped in the male's pouch, and I'm afraid that I won't be able to help!!!

 

[Swanwillow]

I dunno bout that... there was a thread on the .org that recently went through that, but its much rarer than bubbles in pouch and/or retaining eggs.