Thinking about putting Seahorse/Pipefish in my FUGE??

[SCIFI_3D_zoo]

Got a new sump/fuge setup and was thinking of adding a seahorse or something that I can't really have in the main display. Guy at LFS just told me they don't last longer than 2 years even under good care b/c they just don't do well in captivity. I think people are breeding them so....?

I don't want to hand-feed everyday so I thought this would be a good place with a copepod population. But I don't want it to eat all my pods b/c I have wrasse's and mandarin's in the main display. Thought about a pipefish too. Maybe I'm really pushing it now? I was thinking about a small black seahorse. THey seem to be the least expensive and most abundant. But I don't know a damn thing about it... for all I know it could be the worst kind to get.

What do you guys know about Dragon and Leafy Seahorses? I saw some this weekend in Tampa and thought they must cost $100's and even $1000's... or they're endangered and you can't get them. Such a beautiful creature.

 

[Tylt33]

1. Your sump will need to have VERY LOW flow.
2. Most seahorses need a temp of ~74 degrees. You'll need to keep your enitre setup around that temperature.
3. You'll need a fuge of ~30+ gallons, depending on your species.
4. The fuge will also need to be at least 5x the maximum height of the seahorse.
5. Most seahorses change colors. "Small black" isn't a species.
6. They can be difficult to care for, but there are many people who keep them succesfully.
7. Say goodbye to your copepod population.
8. I assume you mean Sea Dragons- Leafy and Weedy? Leafy will cost you $5000+, Weedy will probably run you around half that. Incredibly difficult to acquire and keep, and most people recommend a tank size in the 400+ gallon range.

 

[mollymonticello]

I have a large hang on refugium (around 6 gallons) with a small bluestripe pipefish. I packed the Chaeto in really tight on one side, while leaving the other side open. He can only eat the pods on one side of the Chaeto ball. So I still have plenty of pods for my scooter dragonet pair. Also, bluestripes are too little to eat the amphipods that your fish probably eat. Mine prefers the small harpacticoid copepods. He also eats frozen cyclops and very small mysis.

I personally wouldn't get the "small black" Kelloggi seahorse if you paid me. They're "net-pen raised" in Asia and carry a plethora of parasites and bacteria. They are not hardy at all. If you do get a seahorse, go with captive bred from somewhere like seahorsesource.com. A seahorse will need a good sized fuge, probably around 20 or 30 gallons bare min. Also, the temperature is something to consider, try to go no higher than 74.

I wouldn't personally recommend mixing species of seahorses or pipefish together. There is some evidence that they each carry a particular strain of Vibrio that others do not have resistance to. It's easy to wipe out all your Syngnathids that way.

Seadragons are also temperate, so you would need to chill that enormous tank. 400 gallons is not big enough. Most pros recommend at least an 8 foot square tank, better to be larger. You would be surprised at how big they really are. They are best left in public aquariums for now.