Tank size for sea horses?

BANANAHANDS

BANANAHANDS

New member
My wife has shown interest in sea horses lately so I'm thinking about setting her up a smaller sea horse only tank. I've searched but can't really find an in-depth guide to keeping them. So I have a few questions:
Whats the minimum tank size? I have a couple of 10g laying around and a 29g. Would any of these work? Actually I'm really considering picking up a 24g aquapod or nano cube, would something like that work?
thanks in a advance,
Khris

P.S. just to clarify, I plan to research this in depth before I get in over my head.
 
a 10 gallon would only work for dwarfs and a 29 gallon would be okay for one pair. Some seahorse keepers use the nano cubes but they modify them. If I remember correctly they run on the hotter side. Seahorses like heigth so I have done many different gallon sizes but they are always tall tanks.
 
I've never kept dwarf seahorses but from what I've read on the "org" I would guess that four would be OK.
 
I think the 29 is probably the best bet for a single pair of seahorses. IMO the "nano style" aquariums aren't as versatile or customizable, nor do they offer as much height as the 29 would. If you could use one of the 10 gallons for a sump (to house a protein skimmer, heater if necessary, etc.) and avoid strong currents in the DT, a pair of captive bred seahorses that are already trained to eat frozen mysis would be the way to go.
 
IME, the tank height thing really only comes into play if one plans on breeding SH. otherwise, if the tank is a tad short, it's no huge thing. however, as mentioned, the NC/AP-type "plug 'n' play tanx runn way to warm for even tropical SH species. at the very least, they should be re-pumped to get rid of the terribly inefficient stock pumps, which tend to run quite hot (right off the bat, you'll get about a 2*F drop in temp), but even then, they're still a bit warm and would require a chiller.

the two biggest issues/mistakes peeps make in keeping SH are:

1. they're kept too warm (74*F max for tropicals).

2. folks don't get TRUE CB specimens from a reputable breeder. do not buy the SH you see at the LFS. even thos they call tham TR, they are really raised in net pens in the ocean in SE Asia or Sri Lanka, and have been exposed to all of the same pathogens as WC, and require prophylactic treatment. also, these SH may or may not be trianed to frozen mysis, or have a tendency to go off their feed. don't be afraid of shipping, as SH tend to ship very well.

also, SH need to be fed daily, as they lack true stomachs, and thus, cannot hold food for digestion. this means you'll have to get someone to come in and feed them during vacations or long weekends. definitely something to think about if you like to travel.

HTH
 
Thanks again for all of the replies. Looks like the 29g is the way to go. Now I have tons of research to do :dance:
 
I'd like to also toss out there that dwarf seahorses need live food. Most people feed newly hatched brine shrimp (best if within 12 hours of hatching) so that means you've got to hatch brine shrimp on a daily basis. I have 3 pots going, one for the a.m., one for the p.m. and one I either enrich and feen when about 2 days old or feed to my reef tank. I keep that 3rd one just incase one of the other batches fail to hatch.

I'm a believer in going as big as you can. I have 3 seahorse tanks (different species per tank) and each tank runs a chiller to keep the temp stable and lower. I keep them around 72F.

(Hi, Greg!)

I'm guessing I have about 40 dwarfs in a 12g. I started with 15 last December. :-)
 
Ann Marie said:
I'd like to also toss out there that dwarf seahorses need live food. Most people feed newly hatched brine shrimp (best if within 12 hours of hatching) so that means you've got to hatch brine shrimp on a daily basis. I have 3 pots going, one for the a.m., one for the p.m. and one I either enrich and feen when about 2 days old or feed to my reef tank. I keep that 3rd one just incase one of the other batches fail to hatch.

I'm a believer in going as big as you can. I have 3 seahorse tanks (different species per tank) and each tank runs a chiller to keep the temp stable and lower. I keep them around 72F.

(Hi, Greg!)

I'm guessing I have about 40 dwarfs in a 12g. I started with 15 last December. :-)
Click to expand...


WOW!!! Sounds impressive! any pics?
 
I only run two hatcheries but I have about 75 mysids in with the dwarfs. I dont know for sure if it is the mysid shrimp babies that are making the most difference but the dwarfs I have now are the fattest bunch ever so I would have to contribute that to keeping live mysids in the tank. They also keep it cleaner which has been a nice plus.
 
arcprolife said:
I only run two hatcheries but I have about 75 mysids in with the dwarfs. I dont know for sure if it is the mysid shrimp babies that are making the most difference but the dwarfs I have now are the fattest bunch ever so I would have to contribute that to keeping live mysids in the tank. They also keep it cleaner which has been a nice plus.
Click to expand...

Any pics?



IT HAS BEGUN!!! My wife loved the idea of a seahorse tank! Nothing better than setting up a new tank!
Wish me luck!
 
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