Seahorse Groupies

[ATMgueedo]

What things can you keep with a pair of seahorses? Im about to get some and I already have a tank set up. I just need to know what stuff to move into my other tank. Also what is a good temp to keep the seahorses at?

Clown Goby
Percula Clown
Flameback Angel
Neon (cleaner) Goby
Sally Lightfoot
Cleaner Shimp
Tube Anemone
Blue leg and scarlet hermits
Flame Scallop

Thanks

[blueboy]

i think the tube anemone will have to go, i think i remember hearing that they had a pretty good sting.

[Ram_Puppy]

well, off the top of my head the tube anemone probably needs to go...

you do realize that very few seahorses exist on the reef, most live in algae and sea grass beds, where the vast majority of your livestock comes from the reef.

they are not incompatible per say, but don't really 'go together' though I don't suppose there is any reason you can't keep most of it together.

[Richard]

I would not do the anemone, angel, percula, sally lightfoot

Here's a good list on seahorse tankmates...

http://www.seahorse.org/library/arti...ankmates.shtml

[ATMgueedo]

Yeah Im going to put some grasses in there as well. I was just curious about the fish and such. Im cycling a tank now so the other stuff can go into that tank. I just didnt know what could stay or go. I would like to keep a couple things in there that wouldnt bug the sea horses like the clown goby and stuff but I didnt know what I could and coulnt keep in there.

Wonderful link by the way thank you.

[Jeff]

hermits, shrimp, and small gobies, along with certian pipefish are acceptable tank mates just remimber that seahorses eat very slow so if they eat frozen you dont want to add any fish that is an aggresive eater.

[seamonkey2]

of your list only keep the
Cleaner Shimp
Blue leg and scarlet hermits
Flame Scallop
and add rock for filtration, you're welcome to check out my SH tank for ideas if you want to
LMK

Jose

[loans_n_fishes]

As I understand, the only hermits that are considered safe for seahorses are the scarlet hermits (not blue or red legs).

Do go to seahorse.org and ask lots of questions. They are extremely helpful.

I too am going to set up a seahorse tank. What kind of seahorses are you getting? Many say erectus are the easiest (fry wise as well). I am actually leaning toward the barbs myself.

Lots of people on seahorse.org recommend seahorsesource.com. The guy that runs it is a member at seahorse.org and many people have bought from him. I have yet to see a bad comment.

Tank temp is what I am struggling with. They recommend keeping it less than 77. As you probably know, that is hard to do around here in the summer. I am hoping that fans will do the trick.

Don't forget to get things they can hitch to and keep flow around 5x your tank volume. (Eg: 10 gal tank flow= 50gph) Some people add more flow, but point it at the rock, the surface, and use diffusers.


Tank mates that can stay:

gobies and scarlet hermits

(peppermint shrimp are a good thing to add...control aptaisia which can sting.)

Tank mates that MIGHT work:

cleaner shrimp (sometimes these annoy/stress out the seahorses)

Percola clown (as long as it is a laid back individual...fast moving/feeding fish make seahorses nervous..be ready to move him if you need to)

flame scallop (I am not very familiar with their compatibility with seahorses...probably fine, but I would ask)

blue leg hermits (I would not, personally, take this risk. I have heard horror stories)

Tank mates that MUST NOT be included:

angel

sally lightfoot

anemones

any corals that can sting (seahorse.org has a list of safe ones...look under "library" then "lists" then "tankmates")

What size is your tank? I'm doing a 30 gallon with 2 or 3 pairs of horses.

[seamonkey2]

loan and fishes, 2 pairs in a 30 ga should be more than enough, SH produce a lot of bio load, and as you pointed out fast moving fish will anoy horses, and eat all the food, I would not put a fish in there unless is necessary, and if the clown becomes a pain, catching it, may be a pain too

I got a bout 300 blue legs in there and no problems, I need a large clean up crew.

also I keep my tanks @75 degrees year round, I got 2 chillers working, one per tank, fans would do the trick to a certain level, but as you know it also depends on the ligths you plan to keep, both of my tanks are iluminated with T5s only.

Jose

[loans_n_fishes]

I think you are right, Jose. Two pair will be more than enough. I was originally planning on setting up my 75gal as a seahorse tank and was thinking of 3 pair in it. Wasn't thinking about the adjustment for the 30 gallon ...must have a brain cloud! (I knew it!...well I didn't know it...but I KNEW it). :P I decided on a reef for my 75 instead...so far so good.

I was going to put my 192W pc on the seahorse tank, but am thinking it might be a bit too hot. I may just use a plain cheap florescent or plant bulb. Do you think that would burn cooler?

Yeah, probably easier not to put the clown in. Keep him in the reef.

I second the large cleanup crew! Sounds like Jose has had great success with the blue legs. I had seen a couple of people on seahorse.org say that they had problems with their blue legs. Maybe they were just rogue individuals. (The blue legs not the people) :wacko