seahorses in a 5 gal eclipse?

[pa_reptileman_4]

i recently set up a 5 gal eclipse it has a few zoas, some paly's, macro, and some kenya tree. i am going to get a few more seahorses for it in the next few weeks i just wanted to know what all the other seahorse keepers feel about this. its a kelloggi/ great seahorse. i was also considering a pipefish or two.

 

[ReefNutPA]

To be blunt - your setup is not suitable for any species of seahorse. A 5 gal tank is way too small for any of the large species of seahorse. Only dwarfs would be ok, but not with the corals you intend to keep.

Sorry.

Tom

 

[Freed]

Seahorses need way more room than that. Not a good idea.

 

[erik1202]

Don't do it. Not fair to the horses.

 

[Freed]

I believe most species need more vertical room to mate/court compared to horizontal anyways. Need more room than a 5 gallon.

 

[pa_reptileman_4]

why do you say that a 5 gal is to small for a 2 inch SH? i have tangs that thrive in 30 gal tanks? there is going to be an upgrade obviously. what do you feed your horses?

 

[ann83]

That seahorse is going to grow to 8"-11", but not if you keep it in the 5. If you keep it in the 5 for anything longer than a quarantine/growout period, its growth can be stunted and its lifespan shortened.

Not to mention, a 2" seahorse needs to eat at least 3 times a day, and 3x a day feedings of meaty foods like frozen mysis shrimp (or live if it won't take frozen), will quickly deteriorate the water quality. You're looking at water changes on a daily, or every other day basis, even in a cycled tank, to keep nutrients down.

For reference, we recommend a 29 gallon tank MINIMUM for the large species of seahorses, and if this is a true kelloggi, it is going to need an even larger tank for adequite swimming space.

 

[ReefNutPA]

You asked how "other seahorse keepers feel about this", and I gave you my opinion based on my years of keeping seahorses. Sorry it wasn't what you wanted to hear. However, I won't debate the issue.

Best of luck!

Tom

 

[JennyL]

Re: seahorses in a 5 gal eclipse?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12272117#post12272117 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pa_reptileman_4
i recently set up a 5 gal eclipse it has a few zoas, some paly's, macro, and some kenya tree. i am going to get a few more seahorses for it in the next few weeks i just wanted to know what all the other seahorse keepers feel about this. its a kelloggi/ great seahorse. i was also considering a pipefish or two.

If this is a serious question and not just to stir up people's emotions in this forum, you obviously have not spent any time researching the care and needs of Syngnathids. I suggest you do so.

What you are planning would be a sentence of suffering and death to the stock you mentioned. That is cruel and wrong.

When choosing a tank size, you MUST consider the adult size of the fish.

There really is no room for debate in this situation, it will "not" work.

 

[pa_reptileman_4]

this was really just to stir emotions up. people on here get worked up to easily.

 

[Freed]

The troll has been reported.

 

[pa_reptileman_4]

ohhh boy watch out now......

 

[pledosophy]

I'd put the seahorses in the 30g and the tang in the 5g. The 30g can be a grow out tank, for kelloggi your going to need a 90g or so IMO once they get a bit bigger.

The tang is dead either way so why not speed up the process and give the seahorses a healthy home.

My sig has some good info on tang keeping. :lol:

HTH

 

[pa_reptileman_4]

thanks debbie for not immediatly criticizing my arrangement....

 

[ann83]

Yeah Debbie, good one. Now why don't you give Kevin his sig back. He knows how to use sarcasm properly.

 

[pledosophy]

I read Debbie's post in an April Fools day thread. I thought it was the funniest thing I ever read on this forum so I linked it to my sig.

I didn't think anyone would ever take it seriously. I mean what kind of . . . oops.

 

[MeadowSky]

"In a 29, the tangs will ultimately get too big to even turn around.

However, if you manually turn them every other day, they should be fine. Be sure to wear rubber gloves." Debbie 64

OMG Debbie you are hilarious.