Basic seahorse questions.

windmill

windmill

Member
I've been doing research on seahorse tanks. I'm trying to discern any kind of major difference between your basic saltwater aquarium and a seahorse tank. The only differences I've came across so far are lower flows, less light, slightly lower temperatures, limited tank mates and "hitching posts". I'm also getting the impression that overhangs or "roof" like structures are good.
Is there anything else someone starting a seahorse tank should know? Any suggestions on a hardy, beginner horse?
 
fishgeek01

fishgeek01

Active Member
Your are right on base about it being a simplified saltwater tank. Obviously each species of sea horse will have its own needs, but from what I know here are a few tips.
1.) Make sure that the tank is tall as well as wide, some sea horses when they breed need a taller tank to be able to do their little court ship dance in. Plus I am told that it makes them feel more at home?
2.) Make sure you get tank raised or tank bred horses, they will be less likely to get diseases and also should be easier to feed.
3.) Make sure that if you need to have live foods available that you have that worked out before you get your horses. Some species will not take frozen foods, and starvation is a problem many people have with their horses, as well as poor nutrition. We all know that feeding the same old foods every day day in and day out are not healthy for our livestock, variety is the spice of life.
4.) Have plans for if and when one of your horses does get a disease, a QT and the proper medications. I have been told that once they start doing bad they are hard to get back to healthy.
I have never kept seahorses, I did a lot of research, because my daughter wanted them, and know that it is not as involved as a reef tank, but they are very sensitive creatures. This is all opinion, so take from it what you want, and let me know if I can be of any more help
 
fishgeek01

fishgeek01

Active Member
Also on the good starter horses there is one website in particular that i know of that speciallizes in sea horses, I am sure if you do a google search that you can find it, they also have a lot of good info. I'll give you a hint Ocean Rider is what you type in for your google search
 
windmill

windmill

Member
Thanks for the info fishgeek, did a bunch of reading at that site. I'm definately planning a seahorse set-up but I need to know if there are any helpfull things to have or know beforehand. I know i'll need some kind of collection cup for acclimation and transferring them to and from quarantine as i'm sure a net is a big no-no. I'm leaning toward the zulu-lulu critters because they seem to be the toughest.
I'm thinking gobies or blennies might be good tank mates, but I'm curious about shrimp and crabs. I'm sure some sizeable crabs like the arrow or sally lightfoot might not be a good idea, as would a coral banded shrimp. But what about some emerald crabs or cleaner or peppermint shrimp? Anybody tried this?
 
alyssia

alyssia

Active Member
Only buy captive bred horses that are ALREADY eating frozen mysis! Also, you may want to checkout seahorse dot org if you haven't already. If you want to post your e-mail I can send you some more good info.
 
torno

torno

Member
As a first seahorse, I would recommend h. erectus. I've had my pair for over a year now and have yet to have on illness that I've had to treat. *knock on wood*. Captive bred is the only way to go. They will probably be on frozen mysis shrimp, and you are saving yourself a huggeee risk of them having parasites, etc. My setup for a pair of erectus seahorses is the following:
30 gallon X-tra tall tank
Whisper 30 HOB filter
30+ lbs of liverock
1-2" of sand, seeded from other tank to make live
Maxi-Jet powerhead pointed at surface
I also have a fake coral hitch and am attempting to grow some grape caulerpa. Tankmates include just about every snail you can imagine, (mainly super tongan nassarius), a brittle starfish, 1 scarlet reef hermit crab (the only safe hermits for a seahorse tank), and a firefish gobie. I have also kept a royal gramma with them, with no aggression, but he sadly died of ich.
Now, for two pairs of erectus, you may want to go bigger (say 45 gallon X-tra tall tank), and perhaps think about a skimmer with a microbubble trap, as the bubbles can get stuck in their pouches and cause Gas Bubble Disease. However, for the smaller tanks, a skimmer isn't a neccessity.
Some medications that I have on hand, even though I haven't had to use them, are:
Methylene Blue
Triple Sulfa
Neomycin
Diamox
Neosporin
Formalin 3
I hope I was able to help you out, if you have any questions for me, just ask.
 
torno

torno

Member
I just now saw your question about the shrimp/crabs. IMO, the only safe crabs are scarlet reef hermits. The emerald crabs especially can be pretty fiesty sometimes. You may choose to not go with crabs at all, and just do all snails (thats the majority of my cleanup crew).
As for shrimp, I've had peppermint shrimp with no problem aggression-wise, but beware, they have no problem stealing the mysis shrimp right out of the horses feeding bowl.
Cleaner shrimp are very debatable. Some hate them, as they climb right on the horses, stressing them out, but others have kept them with their horses. Personally, I wouldn't do it, as I know how "friendly" my cleaner is with everyone, and I think he would spook the horses, seeing as they're slow moving and very easy to jump on to.
You are correct with the coral banded, no no no. Those guys are downright mean! Also, although it may not be to your fancy, if the horses are the first thing in the tank, there is really no need to quarantine them. Now, any addition after them, I would advise, but seeing as they can't really give anything to a previous tankmate, it's not entirely neccessary. I didn't quarantine mine, and I got them from the place where they're called "Mustangs".
Good Luck.
 
alyssia

alyssia

Active Member
Originally Posted by Torno
I just now saw your question about the shrimp/crabs. IMO, the only safe crabs are scarlet reef hermits. The emerald crabs especially can be pretty fiesty sometimes. You may choose to not go with crabs at all, and just do all snails (thats the majority of my cleanup crew).
As for shrimp, I've had peppermint shrimp with no problem aggression-wise, but beware, they have no problem stealing the mysis shrimp right out of the horses feeding bowl.
Cleaner shrimp are very debatable. Some hate them, as they climb right on the horses, stressing them out, but others have kept them with their horses. Personally, I wouldn't do it, as I know how "friendly" my cleaner is with everyone, and I think he would spook the horses, seeing as they're slow moving and very easy to jump on to.
You are correct with the coral banded, no no no. Those guys are downright mean! Also, although it may not be to your fancy, if the horses are the first thing in the tank, there is really no need to quarantine them. Now, any addition after them, I would advise, but seeing as they can't really give anything to a previous tankmate, it's not entirely neccessary. I didn't quarantine mine, and I got them from the place where they're called "Mustangs".
Good Luck.

I couldn't keep cleaners w/mine. They were always trying to clean the horses. One horse didn't mind but the other one would get very anxious.
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
I to would suggest erectis. they are one of the easiest. Glad to see someone have meds on had before the horses. you might look at seahorse sourse.
 
alyssia

alyssia

Active Member
Originally Posted by TeresaQ
I to would suggest erectis. they are one of the easiest. Glad to see someone have meds on had before the horses. you might look at seahorse sourse.

That's where I got mine. They're excellent.
I keep meds on hand too.
 
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