Newbie to Seahorses

twist of lime

twist of lime

Member
I will sone be upgrading from my 20g to a 60g tank
. I was thinking that I would like to turn the 20g into a seahorse/pipefish tank. I was wondering if there are any good sights or advice that any one can give me. Also are ponies or horses better for a beggining seahorse keeper?
Thanks
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
20 gallons is a little small for a seahorse, they need a lot of vertiical swimming space to feel really comfortable. I bet that would be a good tank for dwarf ponies, however, and from what Rykna tells us, they're quite hardy -- you just have to be prepared to set up a BBS system to feed them live baby brine.
 
dingus890

dingus890

Member
You may want to look into Hippocampus Fuscus.They would do well in a 20 gallon and eat frozen foods.Their cost is quite more each horse though.
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
DIdn't think of that! Also Zulu-lulus would be good, but they're hard to come by these days. That ocean rider place had them available for a short time, but sold out now. :-(
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member
Originally Posted by twist of lime
http:///forum/post/2810888
I will sone be upgrading from my 20g to a 60g tank
. I was thinking that I would like to turn the 20g into a seahorse/pipefish tank. I was wondering if there are any good sights or advice that any one can give me. Also are ponies or horses better for a beggining seahorse keeper?
Thanks
You came to the perfect online forum. Welcome aboard. What kind of setup did you have in mind for the 20?
 
twist of lime

twist of lime

Member
It's already being used. It has a 150w mh, hang on the back filter, and 1 mini jet. When I take all the livstock I have in it know and move it to the 60g I will take out the mini jet becuase I have heard that seahorses don't like alot of flow. I would like to do a zoa/shroom/ricordia seahorse tank. I would also like some different types of macro algea.
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member
Originally Posted by twist of lime
http:///forum/post/2812096
It's already being used. It has a 150w mh, hang on the back filter, and 1 mini jet. When I take all the livstock I have in it know and move it to the 60g I will take out the mini jet becuase I have heard that seahorses don't like alot of flow. I would like to do a zoa/shroom/ricordia seahorse tank. I would also like some different types of macro algea.
That is completely FALSE!!! Seahorses love high current. They just need a lot of hitching posts. If you look at all the regions where wild seahorses live, it's all coastal regions where the highest flow of the ocean is. IMHO the seahorses love the high flow because it provides a constant buffet flow of food. All a seahorse need do is "Snick" in the choice selections as they pass by.
 
twist of lime

twist of lime

Member
Ok then I will add another mini jet. I have been looking into a dwarf species called H zostrae however it seems that they do better in a smaller tank. I've also looked into other seahorses and those are to big for a 20g. Do you think that I could put an H zostrae heard in a 20g?
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
How tall is your 20 gal. There are several species that are under 6 inches.
They are not always avalable and sometimes hard to find captive bred.
H. Barbouri also called Barbs-3 to 6 inches-tropical meaning need a tank that is 72 to 76 degrees.
H. Comes also know as Tiger tail- 4 to 6 inchs-tropical
H fuscus- 3 to 5 inches, though not always avalable
H breviceps- 3 to 4 inches - Temprate species. they need a chiller-tank temps 65 to 69 degrees
H capensis - 4 inches also Temprate- 65 to 69 degrees
Also, A few of these are bred by ora and maybe SWF.com can order them for you.
TeresaQ
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
I still think that you may be ok with one of the species I posted. Your a few inches short but should be ok. These species if bought captive bred would eat the mini frozen mysis.
T
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member
Originally Posted by TeresaQ
http:///forum/post/2812608
I still think that you may be ok with one of the species I posted. Your a few inches short but should be ok. These species if bought captive bred would eat the mini frozen mysis.
T
I'll second that
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
+1 with Teresa....especially the barbouris......they're like smaller, spikier cousins of erectus. Some barbouris will grow very well defined cirri as well (body spikes) that look spectacular.
That being said, I still think zulus are wonderful....they're sort of the next "model" up from drawf horses.
 
twist of lime

twist of lime

Member
Originally Posted by novahobbies
http:///forum/post/2812716
+1 with Teresa....especially the barbouris......they're like smaller, spikier cousins of erectus. Some barbouris will grow very well defined cirri as well (body spikes) that look spectacular.
That being said, I still think zulus are wonderful....they're sort of the next "model" up from drawf horses.
Do you know of any good websites or books about their specific needs?
Thanks for all you guys's info, Diane
 
A

alexa11

Guest
my local pet store has some dwarf seahorses that are tank raised and eat mysis. I thought they wouldnt accept frozen, but they have a whole tank of them.
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by TeresaQ
http:///forum/post/2815221
you should be able to find barbs or comes. I know of one place that has barbs in stock.
T
Is it the place in Ft Pierce, FL? I have an LFS that has dealt with them...have you done dealt with them personally? I love the barb they have as their posterfish.....
 
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