Which Seahorse Species To Start With?

[sharla1234]

I've been told by some experienced seahorse keepers that H.Erectus should be my first seahorses.
Which, in order after that are the easiest/hardiest to keep?
Where does H. Reidi fall on that list?
Thanks,
Sharla

 

[ReefNutPA]

If you are not concerned with breeding them...captive bred Reidi would be right up there with Erectus IMO. Captive bred Kuda are also rather hardy.


Tom

 

[Puffer Queen]

If you have a chilled tank - capensis seahorses are very easy/hardy - they tolerate a wide range of salinity. Their fry hitch immediately after birth and they take baby brine as their first food.

For non chilled tanks - captive bred erectus or reidi. I agree with Tom - if you are interested in breeding, stick with the erectus.

Best of luck.

 

[sharla1234]

Ok, so this means Reidi are tough to breed? And why or what would I especially need to know to breed them as opposed to another species?

Thanks

 

[Puffer Queen]

Reidi are not difficult to breed - they will breed often and produce LARGE batches of fry. The fry are more difficult to raise than erectus or capensis.

You could get only same sexed seahorses if you do not want any fry.

Best of luck.

 

[hydroid]

reidi fry are very small and often can't eat baby brine shrimp from day one (like erectus and capensis can). That means you have to find/culture another food for their first week.

Also, reidi fry don't hitch for about 5 weeks. Their free-swimming ways gets them into trouble (snicking air, getting caught somewhere, etc.) Consequently the fry tank needs to be more complex ... a kriesel system is often used.

 

[sharla1234]

So, can Reidi fry be started on Cyclopeeze?

 

[Puffer Queen]

No - too big and usually have to be trained to take "dead" or non moving food.

 

[ReefNutPA]

No, all fry need live foods at birth. You don't start training them to frozen/prepared food until they are quite a few weeks old. Both Reidi and Kuda require rotifers, which you'll have to culture using 5 or 10 gallon tanks. Erectus fry can be started with newly hatched brine shrimp, which you'll have to hatch daily.

As stated above, Reidi & Kuda fry float around in the water and do not hitch for weeks. That combined with the fact they need rotifers cultured for food makes them quite challenging to raise. Erectus fry, on the other hand, can usually hitch right after birth and are easier to feed since they can eat newly hatched brine shrimp.

That is why it's suggested if breeding is a concern for you..Erectus would be the best seahorses to start with. If you're not interested in breeding, then Erectus/Reidi/Kuda are equally good as starter horses and are all available as captive bred from a few different breeders/vendors.

Tom

 

[sharla1234]

Thanks so much for all the info. I always have more luck on the forum than finding books when it comes to seahorses!
I suppose my next obstacle is whether or not to plant or not to plant. (Brightly colored, dyed corals with some live rock or plants).
I was thinking black sand & brightly colored dyed corals for the seahorses' coloration, but it seems that most people have planted tanks!!??

 

[hydroid]

I have black sand in one of my tanks ... pretty cool looking. I think mine was Gray Coast brand. If you go with it, rince it good, as it has a lot of dust (silt?) in it.

Macro is great in a sh tank ... adds color, horses love it, exports nutrients. If you go with plants, find Samala on this board ... she's the one with Chlorophyll running through her veins.