Would like to keep a sea horse

[usmc121581]

I have a 14 gal nano thats been setup on and off the last year. Recently has been setup for a few months now. All that is in it is a bunch of Xenia from my 120 reef and a fire fish. So to question. I would like to put a sea horse in there. But what type would be good to add. If I have to I will put the fire fish in the 120.

 

[TamiW]

A 14 gallon tank is really a bad size for seahorses. Its too small for most species, and too large for dwarf seahorses (food density issues). The only seahorses that would do okay in that size tank are sub tropical and temperate - you'd need a chiller to start, which means you'd have to say goodbye to all the commonly available reef inhabitants. If you wanted to go that route, H. breviceps is occasionally available through seahorsesource.com

For most commonly available seahorse species, I'd start with a 30 gallon.

 

[usmc121581]

I have always wanted one for my daughter. (for me to) That just gives me an excuse to setup our 5th tank. Now if I can only talk the wife into it. She complains that we have to many and we dont even pay electric or water. Thanks for the info

 

[buffalobunch]

I had a pair of captive bred H. erectus in a 10g for 3 months until I set up a 40g tall for them. I kept it in the coolest room in the house and the tank averaged about 74-76. As long as the temperature is cool enough, erectus is a good start as long as they are cb. Seahorseorg.com says that a pair can be kept in as small as 8g minimum. I bought a female and kept her in the 10g for 1 1/2 months and then bought her a mate. After I set up the 40g that has a sump and a refugium they started having babies and now have babies every 16 days!!! This of course is JMO

 

[TamiW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11187564#post11187564 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by buffalobunch
Seahorseorg.com says that a pair can be kept in as small as 8g minimum. [/B]

I don't believe that is correct. That is 8 gallons per pair, but starting with a minimum of x-gallons. For example, you wouldn't keep 2 adult pair in 8 gallons of water, but with that rule, you'd be able to keep 5 pair in a 40 gallon.

Now, I also remember the 8 gallon/pair rule being thrown around and I recall it in 2000/2001 when I started keeping larger species. I think much has been learned since then and its generally not appropriate to keep such messy feeders in such cramped quarters. Yes, for a brief while a couple of juveniles might do okay, but they grown fast, and if you don't have a larger tank in the works, you'll be in trouble.

A much more reasonable approach is 10 gallons per med-large species of seahorse, with an absolute minimum tank size of 20 gallons. 30 gallons (or 29, for standard tank sizes that are tall) is a much better starting size.

 

[usmc121581]

thanks for info

 

[hydroid]

Those numbers are also absolute minimums ... like an 8x8 prison cell can accomodate one person.

 

[buffalobunch]

wow! you guys are a rough crowd Like I said, I upgraded and it is JMO. I got my numbers off of seahorse.org. I wanted to see if seahorses were right for me. After keeping them for a FEW months in the 10g, I upgraded and put them in the 40g

If you have a plan to upgrade and get something bigger for them I see no harm in starting with a small tank. This is of course just my opinion and my succesful experience.