pics of my girls...

[myers93]

Hey Mona Lisa!!!
I've beeen researching around for a couple months to start a sea horse aquarium and i have a couple questions...
1) can u keep any inverts in the same aquarium as sea horses ( different websites says different things)
2) what kind of sea horse would be best suitable for a 10 gallon aquarium?
3) What are sea horses favorite vegitation?
Thanx, Myers93

 

[monalisa]

I could really use some advice here. There are a lot of pretty sizeable bristleworms in my sh tank that come out when I feed. What worries me, is that Navajo likes to hunt her meals along the sand, and I'm afraid that she may get stung by one (is that a possibility?).
I've got a plan formulating where I feed my tank with the tank lights off, and use one of my dive lights to locate the bristles and pick them out with tweezers or something.
Is something like this necessary, or am I worrying over nothing?

HELP!!
Lisa

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by Myers93
Hey Mona Lisa!!!
I've beeen researching around for a couple months to start a sea horse aquarium and i have a couple questions...
1) can u keep any inverts in the same aquarium as sea horses ( different websites says different things)
2) what kind of sea horse would be best suitable for a 10 gallon aquarium?
3) What are sea horses favorite vegitation?
Thanx, Myers93
Myers, if this is your first SW tank, I really advise against making it a seahorse tank. The best advice that I can give is to do a lot of research and make decisions based on what kind of horses you want to keep. You can keep inverts in with your horses, but as I've stated in my thread, I've decided against keeping hermits in there...I may rethink that with the new population of bristleworms cropping up...I just don't want the little buggers getting naughty with my horses. Seahorses like any kind of macroalgae that would be suitable in a reef, heck, they're just as happy with fake vegetation just so they have lots of hitching opportunities, and lots of places for pods to procreate.
Now, to the 10 gallon tank. As far as I know, there are NO beginning seahorses that would be suitable for a 10 gallon tank. Heck, I would be hard pressed to even try a 10 gallon nano reef with my limited knowledge and the instability that such a small tank presents...and I've been doing this for 3 1/2 years and I have a 46gal reef and my 37gal seahorse tank (both also considered small tanks!!).
The only horses that I know of that would be suitable in a 10 would dwarf or pygmy horses...definitely NOT a good choice for first seahorses.
My advice Myers, would be to start out with a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) set up and see what you think about taking care of that. Then progress to corals. If that works out then begin expanding to the more specialized set ups such as SPS or seahorse tanks.
NOTE: It is my understanding that the best seahorses to start out with are the medium sized horses in nothing less than a 29gal for a pair. These would include, but are not limited to h-kuda (like mine), h-erectus, h-reidi, and I think there's another one but I can't think of the name right now...sorry.
I hope this answers your questions Myers, without discouraging you. I believe that everyone, if they have the knowledge and the drive, can do anything they set out to do. Doing it right, however is the key, and you've started out great by coming to this site and asking questions first.
Let me know what you end up doing, I'm curious.
Lisa

 

[myers93]

Hey MonaLisa!!!
Good advice! i have had a 10 gallon saltwater aquarium for 2 1/2 years so far and everything has been great... So i was thinking about gettin another 10 gal. for sh's ... but i guess i should start looking for a much BIGGER aquarium! Thank God my birthday is comin up in the fall cuz i am moneyless :-(
Keep in Touch
Myers, (13 years old )

 

[rykna]

Originally Posted by Myers93
Hey MonaLisa!!!
Good advice! i have had a 10 gallon saltwater aquarium for 2 1/2 years so far and everything has been great... So i was thinking about gettin another 10 gal. for sh's ... but i guess i should start looking for a much BIGGER aquarium! Thank God my birthday is comin up in the fall cuz i am moneyless :-(
Keep in Touch
Myers, (13 years old )
I'll second Lisa

Welcome aboard~ you're now one step closer to becoming a successful salt water awuarium owner. Keep us posted on yur progress

 

[poniegirl]

Originally Posted by MonaLisa
I could really use some advice here. There are a lot of pretty sizeable bristleworms in my sh tank that come out when I feed. What worries me, is that Navajo likes to hunt her meals along the sand, and I'm afraid that she may get stung by one (is that a possibility?).
I've got a plan formulating where I feed my tank with the tank lights off, and use one of my dive lights to locate the bristles and pick them out with tweezers or something.
Is something like this necessary, or am I worrying over nothing?

HELP!!
Lisa
There is a possibility of an accidental snicking up of small bristleworms. I went through an awful time with these critters and ended up buying a fairy wrasse who did an outstanding job of cleaning up the problem. He was a smaller wrasse, about 3 inches, so only ate the smaller worms. This was perfect. The larger worms serve a purpose, as well, and not much chance of a seahorse mistaking them for food!
I know folks don't like to have horizontal fish in with their seahorses, but it was not a problem for mine.
I have not heard of any really efficient way to deal with bristleworms other than having a fish that will eat them. There are many traps and ideas, but not much success, from what I understand.

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by PonieGirl
There is a possibility of an accidental snicking up of small bristleworms. I went through an awful time with these critters and ended up buying a fairy wrasse who did an outstanding job of cleaning up the problem. He was a smaller wrasse, about 3 inches, so only ate the smaller worms. This was perfect. The larger worms serve a purpose, as well, and not much chance of a seahorse mistaking them for food!
I know folks don't like to have horizontal fish in with their seahorses, but it was not a problem for mine.
I have not heard of any really efficient way to deal with bristleworms other than having a fish that will eat them. There are many traps and ideas, but not much success, from what I understand.
Yeah, I think that your post a while back is what has me concerned for my horses, especially Navajo (always hunting, it seems). The worms that I've noticed are actually larger ones...not that THAT makes me feel any better, but like you said, she won't mistake them for food. Is there a possibility of her getting stung by one of those? This also worries me.
Lisa

 

[monalisa]

Well, to date, Apache and Navajo are doing really, really good. Both are eating very well, exploring the tank quite a bit and, I hope, seem very happy.
I finally heard back from that friend of a friend who's selling his live rock...unfortunately at this point we're still playing phone tag...but he did say that he's definitely interested in selling it. So, that's where I'm at with that...getting nowhere fast. Hopefully we can hook up this week.
Lisa

 

[rykna]

Neato! Which tank are the new LR going into? Good to hear your horses are doing great

Seahorses are amazing fish.

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by Rykna
Neato! Which tank are the new LR going into? Good to hear your horses are doing great Seahorses are amazing fish.
This guy has about 30# of rock that he wants to sell. I want to replace the dead coral in my sh tank, then divide the rest up between my reef and Beth's tank. I guess he's breaking down a 37gal tank like mine...hmmm, where could I put that little number? Yeah, like I need another tank!! sheesh.
Lisa

 

[rykna]

Originally Posted by MonaLisa
TI guess he's breaking down a 37gal tank like mine...hmmm, where could I put that little number? Yeah, like I need another tank!! sheesh.
Lisa
hmmmmmmmm.....I'm sure any one online here would help you fill it up in 5 seconds

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by Rykna
hmmmmmmmm.....I'm sure any one online here would help you fill it up in 5 seconds

Uh-uh, no more tanks in my house!! The two I have are quite enough. It's all I can do to keep up with them these days...
What about you Ryk? In the market for a nice tall 37gal tank? hehehe.

Lisa

 

[rykna]

Originally Posted by MonaLisa
Uh-uh, no more tanks in my house!! The two I have are quite enough. It's all I can do to keep up with them these days...
What about you Ryk? In the market for a nice tall 37gal tank? hehehe.

Lisa
If it's free I'll be happy to relieve you of it

 

[monalisa]

It's come to my attention that my "algae" pockets have not worked out as well as I had hoped. I've not had much luck keeping chaeto healthy in this tank, and this time is not exception. I took the last of the pockets out tonight and placed another piece of fake foliage...I've noticed that the others have been great breeding grounds for pods, along with the sponges over the intakes. Attached are some pictures of the plant that I added. The plant I'm referring to is the dark green one farthest left in the pictures.
So...what do you think?
Lisa

 

[flpriest]

Originally Posted by MonaLisa
It's come to my attention that my "algae" pockets have not worked out as well as I had hoped. I've not had much luck keeping chaeto healthy in this tank, and this time is not exception. I took the last of the pockets out tonight and placed another piece of fake foliage...I've noticed that the others have been great breeding grounds for pods, along with the sponges over the intakes. Attached are some pictures of the plant that I added. The plant I'm referring to is the dark green one farthest left in the pictures.
So...what do you think?
Lisa
I know what you mean about the chaeto, the jury is still out on mine. I hope it works though. Other people seem to grow it like weeds.

I think your plant make a great addition to your tank! Beautiful pics!

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by flpriest
I know what you mean about the chaeto, the jury is still out on mine. I hope it works though. Other people seem to grow it like weeds.

I think your plant make a great addition to your tank! Beautiful pics!

Thanks flp, I hope the new plant works out in my tank. I wonder if chaeto needs 24 hour lighting...could that be what its missing in my tank? Obviously I'm not going to replace it under those kinds of conditions, just wondering because I've also heard of others having it grow out of control in their tanks. I may give the pockets another go sometime down the road...we'll see.
Lisa

 

[monalisa]

My horses got through their first 2 "slabs" of mysis shrimp. I made the mistake a week or so ago to buy a different brand than what I've had. When I got it home, I read the labels on the product. First off, the brand I use states "vitamin enhanced, parasite-free". When that wasn't on the lable of this second brand, I got a bit nervous...plus...I think it is old mysis and the pieces were much bigger...neither of my horses went for it.
My HB shot down to Madison to pick up some of the mysis that I'm used to feeding...boy, did he deliver!! The shrimp size is perfect and very fresh. He also picked up a small bottle of garlic extreme. I've given my horses garlic laced foods from day one...but this stuff is extreme!! They LOVE it!! My horses are eating great and enjoying!!

Lisa

 

[monalisa]

I've had a very productive day today. I'm on vacation this coming week, but I felt compelled to go into work this morning to tie up a lot of loose ends...spent 3 hours doing that...I feel much better about doing vacation now.
When I got home I did a little maintenance, cleaning and what not, in my horsie tank...they're a couple of little happy campers again!! After that I did a nice big water change in my reef so my daughter doesn't have to think about anything like that when she's here sitting my house, dog, and fish tanks.
It's been a fun day...I love having a chance to just spend a little time playing with my tanks!! Pics to follow of my seahorses and some of their "cohabitants".
Lisa

 

[rykna]

Wow Lisa, the tank looks great. The frags from Luke have really taken off

So have your horses, they've gotten bigger. How long have you had the pair now? 4 months???

 

[monalisa]

Nope, not quite. I just looked back to my photography thread, and confirmed that I got them on May 27, 2007. So I've had them just over 2 months now.

Lisa