Seahorse qustion
- Thread starter KendallC
- Start date
While there are those that will say yes, I think the majority of experienced seahorse keepers will advise against it.
There are a lot of reasons for it, and some of those reasons can be explained by reading the links at the bottom of My Thoughts On Seahorse Keeping page.
Some links may require registering at that site to be able to view the pages.
There are a lot of reasons for it, and some of those reasons can be explained by reading the links at the bottom of My Thoughts On Seahorse Keeping page.
Some links may require registering at that site to be able to view the pages.
wdt2000
Member
The firefish will work, the others will more than likely cause problems. Here is a tank mate guide for seahorse.
http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/tankmates/tankmates.shtml
http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/tankmates/tankmates.shtml
That doesn't get over the fact that the remaining fish are still a WAY too much bioload for the tank.
In addition to the bioload, salt water fish are more territorial than the average fresh water fish and need more room to establish territories. With aggressive fish like many damsels, some clownfish, and a yellow tang, health problems will most likely run rampant in your tank that size, especially with parasites that take advantage of fish that are stressed.
It's wise to remember that although some people are successful (at least in the short term) with overloading a tank, the majority of people attempting it will be in for major losses somewhere down the line.
In addition to the bioload, salt water fish are more territorial than the average fresh water fish and need more room to establish territories. With aggressive fish like many damsels, some clownfish, and a yellow tang, health problems will most likely run rampant in your tank that size, especially with parasites that take advantage of fish that are stressed.
It's wise to remember that although some people are successful (at least in the short term) with overloading a tank, the majority of people attempting it will be in for major losses somewhere down the line.
Well if you were in the fish forum you would probably get conflicting views on that fish list.
However, IMO, you should be OK except for the flame angel, but don't put them in all at once, and be sure the yellow tang is the last one to go in.
I feel the tank is just too small for both the flame angel and the yellow tang.
You may also need eggcrate over the tank top, or something at least that can stop the firefish from jumping out if the hood doesn't completely enclose the tank top.
Maybe post in the fish forum and see what replies you get.
However, IMO, you should be OK except for the flame angel, but don't put them in all at once, and be sure the yellow tang is the last one to go in.
I feel the tank is just too small for both the flame angel and the yellow tang.
You may also need eggcrate over the tank top, or something at least that can stop the firefish from jumping out if the hood doesn't completely enclose the tank top.
Maybe post in the fish forum and see what replies you get.
wdt2000
Member
If you have plenty of LR and let the tank mature a dwarf angel should do well.
I would drop the chromis and add the snowflake if you like it. But like Rayjay said your better off starting a new thread in the fish forum to get more feedback. Also post more details about your setup to get better feedback such as flow, skimmer, filters, ...
I would drop the chromis and add the snowflake if you like it. But like Rayjay said your better off starting a new thread in the fish forum to get more feedback. Also post more details about your setup to get better feedback such as flow, skimmer, filters, ...
Paul B
Premium Member
You really can't house any of those fish with seahorses. Seahorses have a hard enough time eating as they are slow and "study" their food while eating. Those other fish will gobble it up way before the seahorse eats any. The eel may work.
You also should feed seahorses a couple of times a day, 3 would be better.
You can house them with mandarins and pipefish.
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
Yikes...if you're new to SH, I really recommend that you start with a SH only setup, get them situated, conditioned, and eating well for you, THEN consider adding tankmates.
As mentioned, SH can't compete for food. Also, sharing a tank with "fast movers" (esp. tangs) usually results in the SH hiding, and starving. A 55 gal is WAY too small for a blue tang, BTW (you might be able to keep one of the bristletooth tangs in a 4-foot tank like a 55 gal).
As for the eel...no-frickin'-way-in-h3ll will that work. SFE's get progressively aggressive as they grow, and IME, you'll begin to lose tankmates to their nocturnal foraging. This is worse because SH sleep super soundly and are prime dinner prospects. Trust me...I kept a SFE for 15 years, and I've seen it first hand in a reef setup. So much so, that I eventually had to keep the eel on its own.
Nobody has even mentioned that SH need to be kept at cooler temps (<74*F) for best results...
Sorry...don't mean to be a "nay-sayer", but it would suck for you to have a bad experience.
As mentioned, SH can't compete for food. Also, sharing a tank with "fast movers" (esp. tangs) usually results in the SH hiding, and starving. A 55 gal is WAY too small for a blue tang, BTW (you might be able to keep one of the bristletooth tangs in a 4-foot tank like a 55 gal).
As for the eel...no-frickin'-way-in-h3ll will that work. SFE's get progressively aggressive as they grow, and IME, you'll begin to lose tankmates to their nocturnal foraging. This is worse because SH sleep super soundly and are prime dinner prospects. Trust me...I kept a SFE for 15 years, and I've seen it first hand in a reef setup. So much so, that I eventually had to keep the eel on its own.
Nobody has even mentioned that SH need to be kept at cooler temps (<74*F) for best results...
Sorry...don't mean to be a "nay-sayer", but it would suck for you to have a bad experience.
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
Not necessary, but in most cases, it's the best way to run a system. A sump is nothing more than a "second aquarium" that is typically housed in the stand below the DT. They boost water volume, provide a place to run all those unsightly pieces of equipment instead of taking up space in the DT, they can also be set up as refugia, or simply for additional LR to bump up your biofiltration.
Briefly, water exits the DT via an overflow (O/F), passes down the plumbing, flows into the sump, and is returned to the DT via a water pump (either submersible of external).
Once you run a sump-based system, you'll never want to run anything else if you can help it.
