tank mates

teresaq

Active Member
Tankmates
What's safe? What's not?
by Will Wooten

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Let's be honest, there are very few seahorse keepers who truly wish to keep their seahorses in a species-specific aquarium. Although there are some keepers who insist that no species of fish, coral, or invertebrate should ever be kept with seahorses under any circumstances, there are quite a lot of animals that will do exceptionally well with seahorses while still allowing the seahorses themselves to thrive. To guide seahorse keepers in stocking their seahorse tanks with non-seahorse inhabitants, I have compiled a list of species that are appropriate for keeping with seahorses. This list should be used as a guide only and not a definitive reference.
The species are categorized as either a 0, 1, 2, or 3. The 0's are the most docile species around-- they're even safe with seahorse fry! The 1's are completely safe all the time with small to large horses, almost no exceptions. The 2's are, aside from the occasional rowdy specimen, safe. The 3's are a bit of a gamble, but work in some cases; watch them with care and be prepared to relocate them if they become a threat to your seahorses. Species marked with an asterisk (*) are suitable tankmates for seahorses (based on their numbers-- 0, 1, 2, or 3), but often fail to thrive in captivity for various reasons. These species are not generally recommended for any tank, but they should be referenced anyway. Anything not on the list may not be safe for seahorses ever, but they may just have been overlooked (or in some cases may be a newly-described species). If you have any questions about unlisted species, feel free to e-mail the author or to visit our Tankmates discussion forum. By the way, the list so far only includes species safe for regular-sized, tropical horses. And please, please, please do not hesitate to ask about any one of the listed or unlisted species you may have a question about! Now on to the list...
 

teresaq

Active Member
Fish:
Common Name
Latin Name
Curious Wormfish
Gunnelichthys curiosus
0
Pipefish can make very interesting and unique seahorse tankmates, although they pose some of the same problems as wild-caught seahorses.
Jawfish of the genus Opistognathus can make beautiful seahorse tankmates. Although they may look mean, they have a very peaceful and timid disposition.
Clownfish like this Amphiprion ocellaris can make good seahorse tankmates when small, but as they grow, aggression towards seahorses can become a problem.
Neon Goby
Gobiosoma oceanops
0
Sharknose Goby
Gobiosoma evelynae
0
Yellow Clown Goby
Gobiodon okinawae
0
All Shrimp/Prawn Gobies
Amblyeleotris spp.
1
Blackfinned Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus pavoninoides
1
Blackray Shrimp Goby
Stonogobiops nematodes
1
Blue Assessor
Assessor macneilli
1
Blue-green Chromis
Chromis viridis
1
Bluespotted Jawfish
Opistognathus rosenblatti
1
Clown Shrimp Goby
Stonogobiops sp.
1
Convict Blenny
Pholidichthys leucotaenia
1
Dusky Jawfish
Opistognathus whitehurstii
1
Firefish
Nemateleotris magnifica
1
Goldspecs Jawfish
Opistognathus sp.
1
Green Mandarinfish
Synchiropus splendidus
1

Purple Firefish
Nemateleotris decora
1
Rainford's Goby
Amblygobius rainfordi
1
Red Scooter Dragonet
Synchiropus stellatus
1

Scissortail Goby
Ptereleotris evides
1
Scooter Dragonet
Synchiropus ocellatus
1

Scorpion Dragonet
Synchiropus marmoratus
1

Yellow Assessor
Assessor flavissimus
1
Yellow Eel Goby
Dinematichthys riukiuensis
1
*
Yellow Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus
1
Yellowhead Jawfish
Opistognathus aurifrons
1
Bar Goby
Ptereleortis zebra
2
Bicolor Blenny
Ecsenius bicolor
2
Chalk Basslet
Serranus tortugarum
2
Cleaner Wrasse
Labroides dimidiatus
2

False Percula Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
2
Fourline Wrasse
Pseufocheilinus tetrataenia
2
Leaf Fish
Taenionotus triacanthus
2
Most Cardinalfishes
Apogon spp.
2
Redspotted Blenny
Istiblennius chrysospilos
2
Royal Gramma
Gramma loreto
2
Sixline Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
2
Spotted Mandarinfish
Synchiropus picturatus
2

Sunrise Dottyback
Pseudochromis flavivertex
2
Clark's Clownfish
Amphiprion clarkii
3
Filamented Flasher Wrasse
Paracheilinus filamentosus
3
Longfin Anthias
Pseudanthias ventralis
3
Longnose Filefish
Oxymonacanthus lonirostris
3

Percula Clownfish
Amphiprion percula
3
Pink Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion perideraion
3
Redlip Blenny
Ophioblennius atlanticus
3
Saddled Filefish
Paraluteres prionurus
3
Seaweed Blenny
Parablennius marmoreus
3
Tasseled Filefish
Chaetoderma pencilligera
3
Yellowtail Damselfish
Chrysipter parasema
3
 

teresaq

Active Member
Invertebrates:
Common Name
Latin Name
Astraea Snail
Lithopoma [Astraea] spp.
0
Lysmata shrimp can work wonders in seahorse aquariums, not only by cleaning the seahorses themselves, but by cleaning up any leftover mysis shrimp.
Although many sea stars are exceptionally beautiful and will generally not bother seahorses, their feeding needs usually are unsustainable in the home aquarium.
Blue Linckia Starfish
Linckia laevigata
0

Cerith Snail
Family Cerithiidae
0
Dotted Fromia Starfish
Fromia milleporella
0

Fanworms including Feather Dusters
Phylum Annelida
0
Fighting Conch
Strombus alatus
0
Lettuce Sea Slug
Elysia crispata
0

Marbled Fromia Starfish
Fromia monilis
0

Nassarius Snail
Nassarius vibex
0
Nerite Snail
Nerita spp.
0
Purple “Linckia” Starfish
Echinaster luzonicus
0

Trochus Snail
Trochus niloticus
0
Turbo Snail
Turbo spp.
0
Blue-legged Hermit Crab
Clibanarius tricolor
1
Grass Shrimp
Palaemonetes vulgaris
1
Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni
1
Porcelain Crab
Family Porcellanidae
1

Rockpool Shrimp
Palaemon elegans
1
Scarlet/Blood Shrimp
Lysmata debelius
1
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
1
All Sponges
Phylum Porifera
2

Banded Serpent Star
Ophiolepis superba
2
Emerald Crab
Mithrax sp.
2
Mexican Red-legged Hermit Crab
Clibanarius digueti
2
Red Reef Hermit Crab
Paguristes cadenati
2
Arrow Crab
Stenorhynchus seticornis
3
Horseshoe Crab
Limulus polyphemus
3
Queen Conch
Strombus gigas
3

Tridacnid Clams
Tridacna spp.
3
 

teresaq

Active Member
Corals:
Common Name
Latin Name
Clove Polyps
Clavularia spp.
0
Acropora can survive in seahorse aquariums, although they prefer more flow and will thrive in systems set up specifically for them.
Large Palythoa can potentially sting seahorses, although specimens will not achieve a large enough size to do considerable damage.
Finger Leather
Cladiella spp.
0
Kenya Tree Coral
Capnella spp.
0
Leather Coral
Sinularia spp.
0
Photosynthetic Gorgonians
Eunicea spp. and others
0
Pulse Coral
Xenia spp.
0
Button Polyps
Zoanthus spp.
1
Candy Coral
Caulastrea furcata
1
Colorful Sea Rod
Diodogorgia nodulifera
1

Corky Sea Finger
Briareum spp.
1
Green Star Polyps
Pachyclavularia spp.
1
Ivory Coral
Oculina spp.
1
Mushroom Corals
Actinodiscus = Discosoma spp.
1
Nonphotosynthetic Gorgonians
Acalycigorgia spp. and others
1

Pagoda Cup Coral
Turbinaria frondens
1
Raspberry Coral
Blastomussa merleti
1
Toadstool Leather
Sarcophyton spp.
1
Waving-hand Coral
Anthelia spp.
1
Caribbean Ricordea
Ricordea florida
2
Carnation Coral
Dendronephthya spp.
2

Disk Coral
Fungia spp.
2
Indo-Pacific Ricordea
Ricordea yuma
2
Lobed Brain Coral
Lobophyllia spp.
2
Open Brain Coral
Trachyphyllia geoffroyi
2
Orange Cup Coral
Tubastrea sp.
2
Pipe Organ Coral
Tubipora musica
2
Purple Sea Blade
Pterogorgia sp.
2
Sea Mat
Palythoa spp.
2
Sea Pens
Family Veretillidae
2

Yellow Polyps
Parazoanthus spp.
2
Hairy Mushroom
Rhodactis spp.
3
Hermatypic Corals
Acropora spp., Montipora spp., and many others
3
Moon Brain Coral
Favia spp.
3
Pineapple Coral
Favites spp.
3
br />
* very timid species that usually will not thrive
† usually will not accept prepared food or cannot get enough food without excessive target feeding
‡ most tank setups are unsuitable
Notable Groups That Should Be Avoided:
Fish:
Invertebrates:
Corals
Eeels
all Cephalopods:
Catalaphyllia spp.
Groupers
Cuttlefish
Euphyllia spp.
Sharks/Wobbegongs
Nautiluses
Fire Corals
Tangs
Octopuses
Galaxea spp.
Triggerfish
Squids
Goniopora/Alveopora spp.
Anemones
Heliofungia spp.
Filter-feeding Sea Cucumbers
Hydnophora spp.
Fireworms
Lace Corals
Lobsters
Mantis Shrimp
Nudibranchs
Sea Urchins with sharp spines
Spanish Dancer Flatworms
Tube Anemones
**Scientific names provided by Scott W. Michael's Marine Fishes, Bob Fenner's The Conscientious Marine Aquarist, and Eric Borneman's Aquarium Corals
 

rykna

Active Member
I'll drink to that.
I'm starting to think that dwarf seahorse tanks are better off decorated with artificial plants and DR. I put a lonely little polyp and a small frag of zoos in the pony tank, 2 days latter the whole tank was growing red slime algae.
 

zeke92

Active Member
haha, also put on archive. maby people wil notice it more on it's own thread. apparently when i took it from your original post no one read it=questions kept comin
 

lizzy

Member
this is awesome...anyone know about butterflys? just starting research...I love to look at seahorses but dont know much about them yet...like i said...just looking into it. I only have two clowns right now and a few corals but I just got my full tank stock list finished and this is what i would like to have. (in a 65 gal..) Let me know if you see any problems. 2 clowns (already have) 1 mandarin goby (wont be in for a while but i can see pods running around....) 1 long nose hawkfish either 1 racoon butterfly or 1 copperband butterfly (i know about nipping at corals...and will be ready for that) 1 sixline wrasse. do you see any probs with those? and would all of those get along with a seahorse if i eventually wanted to get one? Thanks!
 

kanicky

Member
This is a GREAT list to have, especially for a newcomer to seahorse-keeping, however, this list was taken from Seahorse dot org and the author of this article, Will Wooten, has not given anyone outside of SDO permission to post this list elsewhere. The folks over at SDO are actually a little miffed right now because a lot of their articles are being copy-pasted over here without permission.
I know this may not seem like a big deal to some, however, as an aspiring author, I pay more attention to these kinds of things so I thought I'd pass on the info...
 

teresaq

Active Member
I am sorry if I made anyone mad. I am a member of the other site also and did not think they would mind sharing info with other seahorse keepers. I left the authers name at the top, Just trying to get this type of info to more people. I am suprized an auther would mind more people reading thier work.
T
 
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