seahorses
- Thread starter fonz4u
- Start date
ReefNutPA
New member
If you purchase true captive bred seahorses direct from a breeder or hobbyists, they are not "difficult" to keep as long as you provide the correct set-up and maintenance. IMO, I wouldn't consider them "easy", either.
Quite honestly, I spend more time with maintenance on my seahorse tanks than I need to with my reef tanks. Mainly because of the slower water flow and protein-rich frozen mysis they eat. Without regular maintenance and water changes nuisance algae can get a foothold and cause issues.
Beware of LFS's selling "tank-bred" seahorses as many of the seahorses offered for sale at LFS are actually net-pen raised in the ocean and can have the same health issues as wild caught seahorses (ie: worms, parasites, etc).
Tom
Quite honestly, I spend more time with maintenance on my seahorse tanks than I need to with my reef tanks. Mainly because of the slower water flow and protein-rich frozen mysis they eat. Without regular maintenance and water changes nuisance algae can get a foothold and cause issues.
Beware of LFS's selling "tank-bred" seahorses as many of the seahorses offered for sale at LFS are actually net-pen raised in the ocean and can have the same health issues as wild caught seahorses (ie: worms, parasites, etc).
Tom
peterpiper
New member
Some will say hard, and some will say easy..
If you start right, do your research, ask Q's and keep only 1 species ( CB ) you will find that you will not have the problems that some people new to seahorses have. ( I have had some due to bad advice in regards to LR and lost our female Reidi due to a crab in the LR ). Captive breed ( CB ) SH are eating frozen foods when you buy them, and this means you don't need to train them off live food. With the right setup, the right SH, good filtration and good food you will reap the rewards.
If you start right, do your research, ask Q's and keep only 1 species ( CB ) you will find that you will not have the problems that some people new to seahorses have. ( I have had some due to bad advice in regards to LR and lost our female Reidi due to a crab in the LR ). Captive breed ( CB ) SH are eating frozen foods when you buy them, and this means you don't need to train them off live food. With the right setup, the right SH, good filtration and good food you will reap the rewards.
ann83
New member
Seahorses require more care than many other species of fish (and less care than some), but if provided the right care, they are easy. Unlike many "difficult" fish and corals that should never be in the hobby because we cannot provide proper care; as hobbyists we are actually able to give seahorses proper care. That being said, they aren't a "toss food in once a day" type of fish. They require feeding of frozen foods twice daily, and they require you to get a sitter if you are going to be gone for any length of time, since they will not take dry prepared foods that could be used in a vacation feeder. So, if you are willing to give them the care that they need, then yes, they are an "easy" fish; but if you are looking for something that is not time consuming, and that can handle being left alone over the weekend, then seahorses will be "difficult" for you.
angieg1123
Premium Member
Another suggestion.....
If decide to get into seahorses, get all females to start with. You will not want to raise fry untill you have mastered everything else. Males can have pouch issues you don't need to deal with if you don't intend to raise the fry. Females are also more active so you will enjoy them. Research A LOT! Have all the proper meds onhand before buying seahroses as well. IF they get ill, you do not have much time to treat them. They tend to go down hill quickly. After they are sick is no time to be searching for meds. It will be too late.
Angie
If decide to get into seahorses, get all females to start with. You will not want to raise fry untill you have mastered everything else. Males can have pouch issues you don't need to deal with if you don't intend to raise the fry. Females are also more active so you will enjoy them. Research A LOT! Have all the proper meds onhand before buying seahroses as well. IF they get ill, you do not have much time to treat them. They tend to go down hill quickly. After they are sick is no time to be searching for meds. It will be too late.
Angie
pledosophy
Active member
My first marine tank was a seahorse tank. I never thought they were that hard. Then I got a couple of reefs going. Man are seahorses hard.
It's not that they are impossible or anything, I've had pretty good luck, better then most (ya I say luck) it's just that they are more time consuming. Water changes aren't hard, feeding isn't hard, buying good equipment isn't hard (if your a lotto winner), it just takes more time. After seahorses, my SPS tank is pretty easy. :lol: Way different though. All of it is do able, just needs a bit more time.
Raising fry, is hard
I'm not one to recommend one sex over the other really. Ya females don't ahve pouch problems, but I've never had a male with pouch problems. At least the pouch problems are treatable. Females can become egg bound and then there's nothing you can do but hope. If you end up with two different sexes (if you're sensitive stop reading here please) and they do mate there is no law saying you have to raise the fry. At the risk of sounding extremely cold, the floss pad on the filter will remove the fry. Fish eat um. Sorry guys.
It's not that they are impossible or anything, I've had pretty good luck, better then most (ya I say luck) it's just that they are more time consuming. Water changes aren't hard, feeding isn't hard, buying good equipment isn't hard (if your a lotto winner), it just takes more time. After seahorses, my SPS tank is pretty easy. :lol: Way different though. All of it is do able, just needs a bit more time.
Raising fry, is hard
I'm not one to recommend one sex over the other really. Ya females don't ahve pouch problems, but I've never had a male with pouch problems. At least the pouch problems are treatable. Females can become egg bound and then there's nothing you can do but hope. If you end up with two different sexes (if you're sensitive stop reading here please) and they do mate there is no law saying you have to raise the fry. At the risk of sounding extremely cold, the floss pad on the filter will remove the fry. Fish eat um. Sorry guys.
angieg1123
Premium Member
True...you don't have to try to raise the fry. I do, but that's just me. I raise them to sell them. I don't make much of a profit after all of the salt, brine shrimp, enrichments, equipment, cyclopeeze, shipping supplies, PE Mysis, Hikari Mysis, etc. I just like doing it.
Plus...CB are always better then wild caught and there arn't a lot of people who raise them. I hope some day we get to a point where all seahorses for sale are captive bred. No more taking them from the oceans. Someday..........
Angie
Plus...CB are always better then wild caught and there arn't a lot of people who raise them. I hope some day we get to a point where all seahorses for sale are captive bred. No more taking them from the oceans. Someday..........
Angie
