Would like to eventually get seahorses

[porkchop48]

I currently have a 92 gal SW setup with love rock, fish and critters but no corals as of yet. Been running for about 2 years. Befroe that had a 125 gal sw for about 5 years ( till the divorce)
I have a 35 gal hex that I was thinking of maybe setting up for seahorses in the next year or so.
Any body have any advice?
Is that tank too big or small? What filtration works best for them?
Is there any that do not need live food? How many do you put togther?
I have lots of research to do before I even consider doing thins but this looked like a good place to start.?
Can they have a clean up crew? Do they need QT?

 

[zeke92]

don't get horses until you can answer mos questions yourself.obviously people areoalways ognna have quesitons, btu things like clean up crew and stuf you should be able to answer for yourself. go study, study some more and keep studying. read evERY guide you can find on line of how to care fr them, raise them, raise fry, and breed them, everything.
crabs are a no no.

 

[mcbdz]

The Hex sounds like a good size for most horses, nuless you decide on dawarfs. Captive bred should be trained to eat frozen, but you will still have to be prepared to feed live at times of them going off their feed. There are several people on here that are really knowledgeable. I would start by reading through this forum and also visit the seahorse dot org boards. They have lots of info to read and help with research. You have come to a good place to start. Have fun

researching.

 

[porkchop48]

Just so you know I do plan on researching these things before I jump in. I reasearched dart frogs for more the 2 years before I felt I was ready for them
I do want to stay away from the dwarfs that part I do know.
I need to find out what type of filtration works best. So i will start there. I knwo they can not have the bubbles in the tank due to ( i believe) increases risk of infection to the pouch... Is that right
Thanks for the link to the site i will check it out

 

[teresaq]

35 hex is a good size for the larger species (kuda, erectus) . How tall is the tank. You could fit 2 maybe three in there. 4 would be pushing it. I had three females in a 37 gal cube and the had plenty of room. I would go with either 2 or 3 females. a well planed tank with live rock and micros would only need a canister filter, or hob. buy only CB horses. They will be eatting frozen, or at least should be. They will also hunt pods, and like enriched ghost shrimp for a treat. as far as clean up, snails, and small hermits are ok. (see the list of tank mates) hermits are a one, so they are fine, Just monitor, and if one seems very agressive, then remove. one thing you shouldnt have are brissle worms imo. I know someone whos horse snicked one and it died.
qt, as long as all are added at the same time, you shouldnt need a QT
This will get you started
TeresaQ
ps. I like a canister with a spray bar along the back for gentle flow.

 

[teresaq]

Originally Posted by zeke92
don't get horses until you can answer mos questions yourself.obviously people areoalways ognna have quesitons, btu things like clean up crew and stuf you should be able to answer for yourself. go study, study some more and keep studying. read evERY guide you can find on line of how to care fr them, raise them, raise fry, and breed them, everything.
crabs are a no no.
arent we here to answer these questions. People come here to learn. This is a new forum here on SWF, and I believe that we should answer these basic questions.

 

[rykna]

Originally Posted by porkchop48
I do want to stay away from the dwarfs that part I do know.
Really???? These little beauties are a snap!!! I could have you up to your ears in ponies with in the month

 

[monalisa]

I also have to concur that a 35 hex tank should be ideal for maybe 3 medium sized horses (kuda, reidi, erectus), as Teresa stated. At this point I have 4 kuda in a 37gal tall, but I have some pretty solid plans for upgrading in the next couple of months to a 40-45gal hex corner. Can't wait. At this point, I'm running 2 simple HOB whisper filters on my sh tank, one rated for 30gals and the other rated for 40gals...so far so good. These filters are nice because they are very adjustable. I have one powerhead rated at 170 gph towards the top of the tank which seems to be adequate for O2 exchange. Of course, sponges over all intakes is a must IMO. My clean up crew in the sh tank consists of astrea snails, nassarius snails, and emeral crabs...oh, and the ever present bristle worms (hoping to cut that population down with the upgrade). My bristle worm population exploded by feeding my first pair of horses directly into the tank. At this point, my horses are all trained to eat from a dish. Oh, and water changes every 7-10 days religiously!! In my 37 gallon, I do between 3-4 gallon changes at that interval.
Anything else? Ask away...I think that those of us who have horses at this point and are on this board are MORE than excited to share our successes and ideas, and also very willing to hear more!!
Lisa

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by TeresaQ
I like a canister with a spray bar along the back for gentle flow.
Teresa,
Could you please give me direction to the spray bar and what I would be looking at there? Always researching how to upgrade my system.
Thank you!!
Lisa

 

[rykna]

Originally Posted by MonaLisa
Teresa,
Could you please give me direction to the spray bar and what I would be looking at there? Always researching how to upgrade my system.
Thank you!!
Lisa
Most info I've read suggest to position the spray bar at a 45 degree angle pointing towards the surface.

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by Rykna
Most info I've read suggest to position the spray bar at a 45 degree angle pointing towards the surface.
Where do I get a spray bar...no idea what it is or what it does at this point...where can I get one?
Thanks!!
Lisa

 

[teresaq]

here is the one I have. I now use it in my 150. got it at the drs.

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by TeresaQ
here is the one I have. I now use it in my 150. got it at the drs.
Awesome, I'm headed there right now!!
Thanks!!
Lisa

 

[rykna]

Originally Posted by MonaLisa
Awesome, I'm headed there right now!!
Thanks!!
Lisa
waaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!! There's another kind of spray bar!!!!!!!

 

[teresaq]

this one is really nice, just hook and go. you can turn it so the whole point where you want them. I have it so it points at the surface, and I get nice flow across the top of my tank.
TeresaQ

 

[porkchop48]

Back to the dwarf thing. Do all of them only eat live food?
In you guys opinions which ones would be the easiest to keep?

 

[teresaq]

yes dwarfs only eat live and a 35 would be way to big for them. The largest tank for a lrage herd would be a 10 gal. I would research either erectus or Kuda for your tank size. both are fairly easy, and long as they are eating well, and water is kept at its best. Reidi are the largest and prob too big for your tank. Also H barbouri are a smaller horse, and two pair should be comfortable in your tank, but I have no experiance with this species. They are imported fro Australia.

 

[rykna]

Originally Posted by porkchop48
Back to the dwarf thing. Do all of them only eat live food?
In you guys opinions which ones would be the easiest to keep?
Yep Baby Brine Shrimp, not much more would fit into their little snouts....hmmmmmmm....I don't think that easy and seahorses go together.....

I'd go with one of the picks Teresa talked about.

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by Rykna
Yhmmmmmmm....I don't think that easy and seahorses go together.....

Gotta agree with you there...but the work, the worry and and the commitment is SO worth what you get!!
Lisa

 

[zeke92]

i'm not trying to be harsh dude. i'm saying it's not a good idea o get hroses until you can answer them yourselves. some poeple wil ask a few questins and then go buy some cause they learned the basics from peoplejust telling them. i just don't want someone to aska few questions instead of researching.
wasnt trying to be rude or anything.