Would like some help finding Info

[Treed]

Hello Im new to the site. I was at one of my local coral provides and he recommended I came here because Im wanting to get a seahorse tank started. Iv been in the hobby for about 8 year now(180 gallon sps tank atm) and would like a new challenge. Im the kind of person who wants to do everything right. So Im hoping someone can help me or give me info on how to start a seahorse tank. I was thinking about doing pygmy seahorses but, those are really the only ones iv looked at so far. So I need some info on the type of filters (sumps, refug?), skimmer, media,foods, and so on that would be recommended. Or maybe even a good beginner seahorse.
Hope to start soon! Thanks!

 

[Kay Tickle]

Lots and lots of research here on Reef Central goes a long way (months before you even think about purchasing your seahorses). I don't know anything about the pygmy seahorses, but most people here will tell you that H. erectus and H. reidi are the best beginner seahorses. And buy true captive bred.

What size tank are you planning?

 

[rayjay]

First off, I don't know anywhere that you could purchase pygmy seahorses let alone keep them alive. They have very specific needs.
The smallest available to the trade are H. zosterae, dwarf seahorses and even they have specific needs of live feeding as in ongrown enriched bbs.
Easiest to start with would be probably reidi or erectus, with erectus being easier to raise.
There are links at the bottom of MY THOUGHTS ON SEAHORSE KEEPING page to information helpful to new or soon to be new seahorse keepers.
Like the salt water hobby, there are many ways to succeed in the seahorse keeping hobby so it's best to start with a method that many experienced hobbyists recommend before trying something that is only done by a few.

 

[Treed]

Im thinking about doing a 40 gallon cube and a 10 gallon....One for larger and one for dwarf. Thats my general plan and having them flow into a sump.

 

[mikencarol]

Treed...if you are new at this...I would suggest you go with the 40 gallon cube and nothing more for the time being. Each species has it's own individual requirements and it is enough of a load to learn about them 1 at a time. Set up the one, learn about that species and then move on and add more. Dan and Abbie at Seahorsescource.com and Beth at Pekasponies.com both raise several species along with rayjay in Canada, but these people are EXCEPTIONALLY KNOWLEGABLE at this Seahorse thing and have been at it for years.

 

[rayjay]

Just to set the record straight, I get what knowledge I have from Dan and from posts on the org..
I'm not in that successful category of continual breeding, or even having the yields that others have with their fry.
For quite some time now, I've not even been able to get my pairs to produce any fry.
If anyone in southwestern Ontario is getting fry that they are not going to raise, please let me know.

 

[Treed]

I talked to Dan. He was a lot of help. Im going to start with H. Erectus just gotta get the set up ready. I think Im going to set up a 55 RR with a sump/skimmer. But still going to think about it and research...Wanta make it perfect for these guys.

 

[mikencarol]

Good decision and you went to the right guy to answer your questions. Being smart is just knowing who to ask the questions to!!!!!

 

[Peka]

good decision and you went to the right guy to answer your questions. Being smart is just knowing who to ask the questions to!!!!!

+1