Tank Size

if it is a dwarf seahorse you can, but they are much harder to maintain & raise. 8 gallon is much too small for any other seahorse species
 
That's like asking why you can't live in a small closet. You can, but do you have room to move around? Would you get sick in such a confined environment?
 
Well spoken Ladybug.

If you want you could put 20 giant seahorses in an 8 gallon tank, they will suffer very badly and die, but you could do it.

Everything deserves a quality life, and an 8 gallon tank is way to small for any bar dwarves.

A medium sized horse in this size tank would hardly move, just hang on and fret, and in such an environment, have a far reduced life span.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14704347#post14704347 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FlyinggFish
Why can't I put a medium size one in a tank? I don't understand why they would need much room.
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Many people mistakenly believe that seahorses just stay hitched all day and night and don't move or swim around much. This is a myth and should be discarded.

As has been stated, your 8G is much too small.

Seahorses are very social and do much better in at least pairs.
They are very curious animals and will swim and explore every inch of space you provide them.
If you will provide them the space and a properly maintained home they require, they will amaze you with their antics and friendliness. But if you try to force one to live alone in a tiny space, you will have a very stressed and unhappy seahorse that will have a shortened life and that would be very unfair and cruel.
 
other than the tank being too small for the seahorse, it would also be a lot of maintenance since there less water. frequent water changes would be needed
 
Can I ask why you want a 8 gallon? Even 29 gallon tanks are very cheap. :)

I'd go with the fact even other than it's so small but that I've hears seahorses pollute the water pretty well. In such small volume you may have a hard time keeping the water chemistry in check.

I have no experience keeping them; I can only wish! I really want to set up my 24 gallon aquapod for two females but I can't just yet. :D If I could do that, I'd probably go to the store and look for ~30 gallon tall tank.
 
I'd go with the fact even other than it's so small but that I've hears seahorses pollute the water pretty well. In such small volume you may have a hard time keeping the water chemistry in check.
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yep I'd go with that too. i've also read that Seahorses pollute the water because theyre constantly eating.

I have no experience keeping them; I can only wish! I really want to set up my 24 gallon aquapod for two females but I can't just yet. :D If I could do that, I'd probably go to the store and look for ~30 gallon tall tank.
Click to expand...

i have no experience owning any SHs either :(, but i hope to someday. IMO, i would wait & save for the 30 gallon; more space for the SHs & easier maintenance than 24 gallon ;).
 
OKay, how about this. I have a 29 gallon tank. Would two seahorses do fine in the tank? What if I have fish in the tank with them, like a clarkii clown?

Or I can put them in my 65 gallon tank..which has very docile fish in there. The only problem would be my blue tang because she eats everything in sight.

What do you think?

See the thing is all my tanks have fish in them. The 8 gallon has a clarkii, the 29 is under a lot of maintence but has a cardinal fish and an anthia. I have to get the clarkii out of the 8 gallon, she's getting big. And the 65 gal would be perfect for seahorses...but I have 6 fish in there, but they are very very docile.
So, hopefully, its between the 29 or the 65.

Thank you for your help and understanding.
 
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Here's the problem in having fish with SH. Fish outcompete SH for food. They move much quicker than these guys do, and so slowly, your SH would die of starvation. That's why it's recommended to have a dedicated tank for them.

What about this? Why not put all the fish from the 29 into the 65 and make the 29 a SH tank only. You can easily keep a pair of H. Erectus in there. Oh, that's providing the 29 is not an all-in-one tank like the Biocube. Those kinds of tanks keep very, very high temperatures - too high for SH. If it is an AIO tank, I suggest some modifications with the fans (i can guide you if its a BC29, I did a few mods to mine).

While I have had large reefs for 20 years or so, I am new to SH. This is a different world! They are a pain because of all the different requirements, but are definately worth it.

Hope that helps...
 
I just don't know what to do about my Clark's clown, she needs to get out of the 8 gallon.

Do seahorses eat or bother corals?
 
No, but some of the corals eat and bother SH. You can keep soft corals such as leathers, gorgonias, and zoas with SH. Nothing like plate corals (they'll EAT them for sure), LPS or anything with sweeping tentacles like frogspawn, hammers or bubbles. Just keep in mind that SH are very docile and they like to hitch on corals. they are also not the fastest creatures, so they become prey to some corals.

I have leathers (kenya trees, sinularia, toadstools, etc.), mushrooms, zoas and gorgonias in my SH tank with no problems.

Why dont you put the clown in the 65?
 
.....Clarkii. I guess I'll just wait. I'm going to have all my tanks forever, so there will be plenty of time to get seahorses.
 
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