what do I need?

[melissa411]

Hi all!!!

I am interested in keeping a pair of sea horses in my soon to be reef tank.

Are there any special requirements these guys need before I get them?

Just doing as much research as possible b 4 I get them.

 

[Angeline]

Are you keeping them in a reef tank with other fish? That's going to be hard. Seahorses are very slow eaters and will not get enough food if they are in a tank with other fish. Plus, you shouldn't really keep stinging corals in with them, as they will get stung so soft corals would be best.

Another thing is that they like low flow, which also limits your coral availability. They need a lower temperature than most reef tanks, about 74 - 76 depending on the species of horse you want to get.

From what your signature says, I think that you'd have way too much flow, you would have to find a way to disperce it through the tank, or modify the flow.

I hope that you'll get captive breed horses, as they are easier to care for and well, aren't ripped from the ocean. Please do a lot of research before purchasing these animals, they are amazing but require a lot of work.

Check out seahorse.org while you're at it.

 

[melissa411]

wow

ok then.

totally different breed... haha.
LOL I just assumed I could put them in a reef tank with out stinging corals because thats how the live in the ocean..
Guess not. Most of the corals and fish and inverts i plan on getting need alot of flow.
Maybe I will set up a smal 30 gal tank I have left over with sea horses exclusivley.
I pop back in when I do a little more research and have the tank set up. untill then if I have a ny questions Ill pop back in...

Thanks again.

 

[Samala]

You will find the majority of seahorse and seahorse species in algae and seagrass beds in the wild, not so much on the reefs. This is part of the reason for their different needs as far as temperature, flow, feeding and such. I think the 30gal exclusive setup is a great alternative to keeping them in the reef.

>Sarah