FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hi all!

For a few years now, I've wanted to keep seahorses, I just love them! The Discovery Channel kept me away from this idea though, since they where in extinction danger and wild caught. But a few weeks ago I found an aquarium that is breeding them in captivity and selling them. So the idea came back.

The thing is, I have no idea where to start, obviously with a tank, and the equipment, but I don't know how big of a tank to get, I would love to have a couple and maybe try to breed them. So first question:

For a pair of seahorses, what would be a good tank size?

I once saw on a LFS they had a small tank about 10G hex with seahorses, they where only running a normal heater and an aquaclear 100 and lights.

What kind of equipment do I need as for heaters filters, power heads etc?

Now I've also seen seahorses kept on reef tanks, but from all the reading I've made about then they are not reef fish, is this true? I've seen them in more "planted" environments in photos, than in reefs.

I guess that's enough for a start, in the mean while I'll keep reading and researching, thanks in advance for all the help!

I'd get at least a 20 and just have the horses. They don't really compete well for food. You can keep the seahorses with any corals that don't sting, but the seahorses might bother anything you put in there by wrapping their tails around them to steady themselves.

I think it's hard to have seahorses in reef tanks due to the amount of food that they need(3 30 minute feedings is recommended), thus reducing water quality. Frequent water changes would be needed and protein skimming is a must.

I'd ask the breeder how he is having so much success with the horses, and try to do something similar. He, or she, is obviously doing something right.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

A friend of mine has his in a 90litre Jebo all in one unit
he has a pair and they been doing fine for bout 4 months now... nothing complicated with his setup either - standard inbuilt jebo trickle filter.
No heater required. Also they will not stand any other tank mates - so dont add any thing else. you have to remember they are cold saltwater.

Thanks for the comments!

I've been reading a lot about them today, and I now know a reef is not the ideal setup, they prefer low current and macro algae, which is fine with me since I love planted tanks.

Now I have to get familiar with all the equipment, I have no idea what a protein skimmer is, and and Matty says it's a must from what I'm reading. I have an empty 20G bow front, maybe that will be a good set up just the seahorses, and just a pair or two is they are pigmy ones. I also read gobies could be good tank mates, not that I was looking for one, but it could be interesting.

They all recommend to cycle the tank for at least a month up to 6 in order to have a good environment for them.

any more thoughts?

Last edited by Falstaf at 27-Nov-2005 19:50