Dwarf Seahorses

[ramsey]

I'm thinking about converting my 12g nano cube into a dwarf seahorse tank. I've read up on them and my biggest concern is hydroids. I would like to have live macro in the tank with them and possibly LR but it seems that the risk isn't worth it. Anyone have any experience with them?


The other thing I'm thinking about is selling my nano cube and buying a smaller tank like a Fluval Edge and going all artificial (plants, rock and substrate). It seems cheesy but much safer.

[Europhyllia]

check with Mr Cob he is good at raising hydroids
Also since the dwarfs require live food anyway maybe you can consider gorgonians? You'll already be culturing live foods anyway so why not feed both?

[Mr Cob]

Yep...my old 8g BioCube was cycling for about 8 months.....the pod population was crazy...all kinds of live pods including Mysis shrimp....right when we were ready to purchase dwarf seahorses we notice "jellyfish"...LOL! Darn hydroids!

Shot the project to poop real quick. That and vermetid worms....both can be big problem for dwarfs.

[Still Learning]

simple fix...there is a product you can purchase that can rid your take of hydroids. I personally would do a little live rock with lots of macro algae.

[Europhyllia]

Oh as for macro: I just got a little bunch of dragon's breath form Stephen and love it. So very pretty and non invasive.

[Third Coast Tropical]

When I was at UTMSI, we had artificial plants in a bare bottom tank, used a sponge filter, and had reproducing dwarves. You'll need to raise artemia to feed. We would feed newly hatched artemia twice a day. Not terrible difficult to have them, just a lot of tedious work

[Europhyllia]

The live food requirement is such a commitment. I find myself being really motivated for that kind of stuff for the first 6 months or so and then it gets old. So I've started to look at things in a : "can I still see myself doing every day this 2 years from now?" - kind of way and that's now affecting my livestock choices.
I am fine with feeding frozen two or three times a day because my fridge is in the kitchen right next to the dining room - any more inconvenient and I may drift off into a lower frequency pattern there too...
They are adorable though and would make a wonderful projected for somebody more dedicated!

[ramsey]

This is for my Wife so I'll have to make sure she wants to feed them live food every day. I have a hatch kit and it's not too difficult to hatch everyday. Still, I don't want to end up doing all the work!

[ramsey]

Oh as for macro: I just got a little bunch of dragon's breath form Stephen and love it. So very pretty and non invasive.

Yeah, I got the other half of that! :P It is nice and I was planning on using it though I don't know if I want to take the risk after doing my research.

[Europhyllia]

oh you can sell your half to me then! I love it!
every time I walk by passed my crammed QT tank I think "oh this is so stressful and sad" - and then: "wow but I really like that dragon's breath!" lol