Seahorse Questions

[Sneltyr]

I have a 9 gallon tank with a couple Ocelarris Clowns, Blood Red Fire Shrimp and a tank raised Seahorse. Seahorse is doing well but I think there is too much activity in this tank for him; too much competition for food, activity, water movement, etc...

I also have an ICH outbreak. I'll be moving the Clowns to Copper/QT.

I'd like to maybe use this opportunity to get the Seahorse in a "Seahorse Only" Pico tank.

I'm not sure how small I can go on the Pico and how to protect this little guy from the ICH.

Please advise.

 

[ndnreefer]

What type of seahorse?
9 gallons is probably the smallest you can go with a seahorse for him to be healthy. Even that is pushing it for a seahorse. They are fairly messy creatures in general, with the amount of food and waste they put out. I've seen a seahorse in a pico reef but it only lasted a year before the seahorse and the coral were beginning to get stressed from constantly maintaining the tank with water changes. As for the clothes definitely move then because they will stress the seahorse.

Sorry provably not what you wanted to hear.

As for the ich try soaking frozen mysis in garlic extreme. I 've always had luck with that

 

[JLynn]

Firstly, definitely move that seahorse out of the tank. Assuming this is a full-sized seahorse, the minimum tank size is 29 gallons. This is primarily because seahorses are very messy, and eat a lot. For info on how to treat the ich, read this article from seahorse.org: http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/diseaseguide.shtml.

 

[TamiW]

Just coming in to second JLynn since you have two opposing opinions. Minimum tank size is 30 gallons (29 is safe). If you have a very small seahorse from the fish store (which I suspect you have, most breeders would have vetted you and kept you from this combination of tankmates), you may need a smaller tank temporarily as it grows. However, they grow fast, and if they're not growing fast, something is wrong.

There is a manufacturer of pico and nano aquariums that has been pushing them as being great for seahorses, and they most definitely are not. The seahorses usually end up dying young in those setups.

 

[Sneltyr]

Just coming in to second JLynn since you have two opposing opinions. Minimum tank size is 30 gallons (29 is safe). If you have a very small seahorse from the fish store (which I suspect you have, most breeders would have vetted you and kept you from this combination of tankmates), you may need a smaller tank temporarily as it grows. However, they grow fast, and if they're not growing fast, something is wrong.

There is a manufacturer of pico and nano aquariums that has been pushing them as being great for seahorses, and they most definitely are not. The seahorses usually end up dying young in those setups.

Giving the Seahorse to a local reefer that does Seahorse only tanks. She is very conscientious and loves Seahorses.

Thanks Much