Seahorses/Pipefish at Normal Reef Temps

[SkullV]

I know that people generally say never more then 74* but has anyone had success at 78*? I am setting up a nice macro display fuge for my reef and would love some ponies but could do pipefish as well.

Would captive bred be better suited for the warmer temps? I'm not dead set on this idea, but I would love to hear some success/lack of success stories keeping them at warmer temps.

 

[namxas]

Psst...Skull...don't call them "ponies" or I'll tell everyone in the aggro forum you're going "cutesy". SH is fine, and is actually what most SH keepers call them...

Your best bet would be to keep flagfins (genus Doryhamphus), but you could keep them right in your reef. Flagfins tolerate reef flows and temps quite well.

You could keep SH at that temp, and if it's stable, you may be OK. However, 78*F gives you pretty much ZERO "fudge factor" if something happens and the temp spikes. The reason for keeping Syngnathids on the cool side has to do with their propensity for contracting bacterial infections when the local bacterial count goes up. It tends to take off at about 75*F.

If you DO consider keeping SH at that temp, I'd go with H. reidi, as they seem to be able to handle warmer temps a bit better. And if you do get SH, do yourself a HUGE favor and get TRUE CB specimens from a reputable breeder or hobbyist/breeder. The cheaper SH from the LFS may seem more attractive, but typically end up costing more by the time you treat them for parasites and any other health issues that pop up.

HTH

 

[SkullV]

If you DO consider keeping SH at that temp, I'd go with H. reidi, as they seem to be able to handle warmer temps a bit better. And if you do get SH, do yourself a HUGE favor and get TRUE CB specimens from a reputable breeder or hobbyist/breeder. The cheaper SH from the LFS may seem more attractive, but typically end up costing more by the time you treat them for parasites and any other health issues that pop up.

HTH

I would get them from either SaylorsReef or Peka I think both of them have H. reidi. I think that this may not be a bad idea since they will be in their own macro fuge where I can concentrate on them eating. The flow will be low and they will have plenty of space.

Does have any experience keeping SH with Bangai cardinals just for future info?

 

[namxas]

One of the issues with Banggais is the fact that they have a bit more 'tude than most cards. While I have no firsthand experience with them, I do know of more than a few folks who have had their SH go off their feed only to return to "normal" once the cards were removed. I should mention that this is often true of SH and any "fast mover" or aggressive tankmates. Even cleaner shrimp have been known to stress SH due to their insistence.

 

[SkullV]

One of the issues with Banggais is the fact that they have a bit more 'tude than most cards. While I have no firsthand experience with them, I do know of more than a few folks who have had their SH go off their feed only to return to "normal" once the cards were removed. I should mention that this is often true of SH and any "fast mover" or aggressive tankmates. Even cleaner shrimp have been known to stress SH due to their insistence.

Alright, last question. Where can I get some Captive Bred H. Reidi?? Everyone seems to be out of stock including the 2 local breeders I know of.

 

[SkullV]

How about H. Erectus? Both of my local breeders have them and they seem like a better "beginner" SH from my internet research?

 

[con999]

if ur looking at peak she is great. erectus would not do as well as redi at higher temps. but i dont see the reason to right the SH. sorry if i missed that

 

[timinnl]

Alright, last question. Where can I get some Captive Bred H. Reidi?? Everyone seems to be out of stock including the 2 local breeders I know of.

I had a pair of BC in with my H. reidi. At first they did ok until they found the feeding dish. The BC would eat first and keep the reidi at bay. So I removed them.

Plus they like to eat the SH fry.

Hopes that helps you to decide,

Tim

 

[namxas]

Skull,

Have you checked with Dan @ SH Source? He usually has reidi. As far as erectus being hardier, both SH are pretty close, IMHO. I think one of the things that makes erectus a better beginner SH is being benthic, their fry are WAY easier to rear than the pelagic fry of reidi.

 

[SkullV]

if ur looking at peak she is great. erectus would not do as well as redi at higher temps. but i dont see the reason to right the SH. sorry if i missed that

As with most of your posts, I have no idea what you are saying. Do you have personal experience with Erectus and Reidi?

 

[SkullV]

Skull,

Have you checked with Dan @ SH Source? He usually has reidi. As far as erectus being hardier, both SH are pretty close, IMHO. I think one of the things that makes erectus a better beginner SH is being benthic, their fry are WAY easier to rear than the pelagic fry of reidi.

Reidi is back ordered on SH Source right now from what I am told. I think I am going to try the Erectus as the breeders are local and very active on my local forum if I have any questions. I'm going to drop the temp in the reef down to 77 and see how things go.

Hopefully that works out well, everything is always fully QT and the tank was fallow for 12 weeks before I added any fish so hopefully any harmful bacteria will be at a negligble level if any at all.

 

[namxas]

The tuffest SH we have ever had is our female erectus. She should have died a couple of times, but bounced back and never missed a beat. If a SH ever had "heart", she's the poster child.

She's a swinger too...she mates with our male reidi fairly regularly. One of these days, I may rear the fry just to see what the hybrids are like...redectus? erecti?

 

[SkullV]

Haha, very nice. Definitely going to go with the Erectus then. Their tank will be plumbed into the reef tomorrow and I'll start dropping the temp to 77*. Hopefully they will be here Saturday! I hope they like Mangroves and Macroalgae!

 

[SkullV]

Thanks for everyone's advice. I'll be picking up a pair of 2 males Saturday from Peka. Everyone is short on females at the current moment, but hopefully somewhere down the line I can get a Female from a different bloodline.