What can you keep with seahorses ?

[drew930]

My girlfriends mom has always wanted seahorses, and now I think the time has come. She has the funds for it, but now Im getting questions that I do not know ! lol , I have done some reading about equipment and temps, etc.. but what can you keep with seahorses ? I know you don't want any fish that are big eaters because seahorses are slow eaters. If possible she wants a pair if clowns and maybe a couple of chromis or something similar. Can you keep small fish such as clowns with them ? If so what about adding a BTA with a pair of clowns and maybe 3 chromis or 2 cardinals ?

 

[Cirrhitichthys]

My girlfriends mom has always wanted seahorses, and now I think the time has come. She has the funds for it, but now Im getting questions that I do not know ! lol , I have done some reading about equipment and temps, etc.. but what can you keep with seahorses ? I know you don't want any fish that are big eaters because seahorses are slow eaters. If possible she wants a pair if clowns and maybe a couple of chromis or something similar. Can you keep small fish such as clowns with them ? If so what about adding a BTA with a pair of clowns and maybe 3 chromis or 2 cardinals ?

Definitely not clownfish. Clowns are damsels and can be one of the most territorial fish out there, not to mention they're fast feeders and are likely to bother the SHs. Anemones can eat fish, a seahorse would be easy food. Chromis are fast eaters as well. Cardinals could be fine, but generally you want to keep seahorses in a species-only setup. Tell her to take her time and do a little research on her own, Google is a great tool, as is this forum. Good luck!

~Cirrhi

 

[coralreefdoc]

While there are different species which can be kept along with seahorses, you should inform her that if she desires to keep seahorses enough she should dedicate her entire system to them ...

This will do one of two things:

Question her true desire(s) in keeping a thriving seahorse system, or she will passionately dedicate her system to the unique, species specific ecosystem they require.

Either way, the seahorse specimen(s) in question will be best suited if you were to adamantly recommend this advice

 

[drew930]

Thanks for the advice ! I figured it should be one or the other . Ill let her know and have her choose one or the other .

 

[rayjay]

Definitely no aggressive or fast moving fish. No corals that sting or anemones.
She can get some start up information by reading the links found at the bottom of "My Thoughts on Seahorse Keeping"
One of the links there is: Tankmates Guide

 

[darkiss]

one of my friends has a two spot goby in their sh tank

 

[funkejj]

We have a tiny clown goby that hides in the zoas and a yellow watchman. There are no issues with them at all.

 

[drew930]

A goby would definately be beneficial and there pretty cool . Ill be sure to have her read the links ! Thanks for posting them .

 

[johnalex]

I have had kuda and erectus seahorses for years with a variety of fish: Tailspot blenny. Clown gobies. Chalk bass. Mandarin. small shrimp gobies (Wheeler's, Randalli), Hector's goby, Rainfordi goby. They have also been in with a pair of ocellaris clowns that whole time with no issues, but for just starting out, I'd listen to the other advice in this thread and stay away from the clowns, just in case. But with common sense, I'd imagine most of the peaceful fish in the "nano" category would be fine.

 

[term_paint]

Fish

Fish

From everything i have read you should be able to put gobies or blennies in with them but again with care. I beleive she really needs to make her mind up about what she wants. Also i have been told that Horses require alot of attention like cleaning and feeding.

 

[Jan B]

I've had the best luck with species only tanks, and a basic clean up crew. As soon as you introduce a new species(even peaceful ones), I have found that they can stress the seahorses, out compete them for food, and bring new pathogens into the tank.