Species ID

[Jflowers101]

I have no idea what type of seahorses I have. They are about 1-2 inches. They eat frozen shrimp. My boyfriend bought them at a LFS (30 each about), who assured him they were tank bred. Since they eat frozen shrimp so well I think the LFS was truthful. I have them in a 16gallon biocube. Nothing else is in the tank except a very peaceful urchin, a peppermint shrimp, a conch, hermits, and snails. It had been three weeks and they seem to be doing great. I have live rock and some fake plants for hitching (they use it all). The tank is 9 months old. I'm keeping it at 70-74.

(those who have read my post before, due to everyone telling me I couldn't have a clownfish and a wrasse in a 16gallon, they have been moved to a 40 gallon and I have the seahorses in the 16gallon).

1. ) If they are not mature dwarfs then I realize the tank is too small and I will have to upgrade. I'm not convinced they are not dwarfs based on a picture search online. However they are crazy about the frozen shrimp, swim straight up and start going at it. Can anyone ID them as black dwarfs, or kuda or erectus? If they are Kuda or Erectus, how big will they get?

2.) I have place sponge (nitrate reducing) with a rubber band over the flow which I change weekly. My water has never tested better (0 anmonia, nitrates, nitrites), and the horses seem to swim easily around? Because this is not the typically set-up I was wondering if anyone with more knowledge could foresee problems with this?

3.) Best I can tell they are both girls. I'm worried that they may need a mate. If they are dwarfs I will go get 2 males. If they are not then I of course cannot add more to this already small tank and was wondering if anyone thinks it is unfair to keep them and never allow them to find a mate?

 

[rayjay]

Species ID is rather difficult when they are such juveniles, but they are definitely not dwarfs H. zosterae.
Also, the pictures are not good enough for I.D. anyway.
You cannot tell at that size if they are male or female as the male doesn't develop a pouch until it gets larger so they both look like females at that size.
You will definitely have to upgrade the tank.
They most likely are tank raised but not true captive bred. Both are trained to eat frozen foods. Anyone selling true captive bred is almost certain to know the species. Price also indicates they are not true captive bred.
As for adult size, they will probably get to within 5 or 6 inches overall within a year to eighteen months, but slowly grow a bit more as they age further.
Some sold as kuda can get larger.
Many people not wanting to deal with fry will keep only same sex seahorses in their tanks. It's perfectly acceptable.