Stocking Question

diverdan814

diverdan814

Member
I currently have 6 horses (2 errectus and 6 redii) housed in a 34 gallon tank with live rock. I would like to add a red horse and found a red Brazillian redie from Ocean Rider. Do you think I could add just one to my tank? I fear adding 2 would be approaching overstocking. The website says "They do pair bond and are very sensitive to tank mates and changes to their environment. We do not recommend this seahorse for beginners as they are one of the most delicate of the greater seahorses"

All the horses are captive bred and obtained from Dr. Mac in Maryland. The tank has lots of hitching posts and hiding areas. The current horses are all eating mysis. Except for a 3" orange/yellow horse, the others are colored somewhat similarly: greenish, brown and black. They have been with me for about 3 weeks and all seem happy, healthy.

Before I spend $250 plus shipping on a new animal, I want to hear what you have to say; I have learned much from the posts here and respect the opinions very much.

Thank you,
Rich
 
horses change color

and your already at max capacity...

get some red hitching posts in there, and I bet a reidi would turn red for ya!!!
 
Hi Rich,
Imo, this 34G tank is already overstocked. Remember also, when you add anything, such as rock,etc, you cut down on your actual water volume. I would reccommend only one pair of erectus in a 30G tank, mimimum.
I am afraid you are going to start seeing some very stressed out horses in the very near future, if not already.

I would suggest getting another tank cycled as soon as you can and seperate the existing stock you have.
HTH
 
If your parameters are holding ok, you are probably ok for the short term. Full grown reidi can get quite large, however they are relatively slow growers. At some point you will want to split them out.

Dan
 
I sold four back to a shop today. They were all dark green/brown; not very attractive. Took a hit financially. I had asked Dr. Mac's staff for some color but only one had a small hint of yellow. Now I have four, 2 errectus (the female has appendages) and two small redi, one black, one orange. I will be getting a red and yellow brazillian redi from ocean riders this week, and that should do it.
 
5 horses in a 34 gal tank still seems crowded. The reidi and erectus will both grow out to be 7-8" from crown to tail. Also, it is generally not recommended to mix reidi and erectus. I have done so, but it was a special case.

IMO - you should leave the erectus in the tank they are currently in, and set up another, larger tank for your reidi. That way, they aren't mixed, nor are they crowded. After you have spent what you have on them, it would be a shame to lose them to such a simple fix.
 
Thank you for your advice.
My understanding is that you can mix the two if they are captive bred. Ocean Rider cross breeds them.
The horses will be watched very carefully and I am religious about weekly water changes.
I may have to go larger eventually, but not right now.
 
ocean rider had better not be cross breeding...

thats just... not right... thier colors are supposed to be pure-bred erectus, or what they sell...

but yes, people have had sucess keeping different species together, its just not recommended: remember, these ARE endangered species we are playing with ;)
 
"ocean rider had better not be cross breeding"

They are doing just that. I either read it somewhere on their website or spoke to someone there about it. They are forbidden selling to Hawaii because it is thought it would be not good if some were released to the native waters there.

I understand about WC and CB together. From what I have been able to gather keeping these two CB together is not that big of a risk.
 
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