Originally Posted by
newworldfish
http:///forum/post/2667151
The Dwarf's are much more difficult to care for than the Kuda or the Erectus because of the following...
- They need to be fed live baby brine shrimp (just a few hours old) 2 to 3 times per day.
- They need a small tank because they tend to stay near the bottom and when you feed them the brine shrimp, the shrimp swim to the surface attracted by the light and the dwarfs miss them.
- Since they need a small tank, it is more difficult to maintain good water quality and temperature.
- Babies and even adults can get sucked by the filter.
- If you don't decapsulate the brine shrimp eggs (you will have to hatch your own baby shrimp because there is no way you can get them delivered or bought at the store and be young enough) they carry hydras attached to them and soon you end up with an infestation. I was lucky the first time this happened and had some nudibranks that just loved to munch them up. The hydras will eat the baby seahorses and sting the adults that hitch on them.
I love Dwarfs and I don't want to discourage you from getting them. If you feel like you can handle all this they will be an excellent addition to your collection and with out a doubt will reward you for your efforts.
Ro
Success with seahorses is not for the faint of heart that's for sure. What I find most ironic is our individual experiences with keeping them. I've tried Kuda, Erectus, and Kelloggii, but I've had the most success and enjoyment with my ponies(dwarf seahorses). I'm currently setting up a tank for them. Not that it hasn't had its' ups and downs~aiptasia almost devoured my entire tank...
One thing I really like about ponies is that you have the ability to "gut load" their food. What ever you feed your baby brine will get snicked up, and that way I am sure that my ponies are getting the nutrition they need. They do sell decapsulated artemia so you don't have to worry about the hydras. When my mom first saw my brine hatchery she said it looked like I had a meth lab! I replied "now how do you know what a meth lab looks like?"
The smaller tanks do take more effort, that is why the set up I'm working on has a 55 gallon sump and the display tank with be a 15 gallon high.
But as newworldfish mentioned, ponies do need extra tlc, and if this is your first seahorse, I'd choose Kuda. If you do feel up to the challenge, I'd be happy to help you with a pony tank set up.
Here's some pics of my 5.5 gallon pony tank: