Hi, still in cycle mode with some damsels and a couple of crabs. Ammonia gone nitrites almost gone. We have really had our hearts set on seahorses and will probably try them. I have been doing a lot of reading, and as this hobby goes, had a lot of conflicting info. I understand that some gobies, and maybe box fish, and ropefish. I know that the seahorses need live food. any advise/suggestions/tankmates?
seahorse tankmates
- Thread starter laurabolyard
- Start date
I would wait for the tank to finish cycling, then stabilize for a month or two, then think about seahorses. They are not extremely difficult to keep, but are sensitive to dramatic changes, like one might expect in a new tank.
You haven't said much about your setup, like tank size, filtration, live rock, etc. Depending on the size and equipment, you may not have a lot of room for anything beside the SHs. For them to be comfortable in the long term, a 29 gallon tank for a pair would be about minimun for any species except zostera (dwarf). Anything that will compete for food, which includes almost any normal fish, is not a good idea. Pipefish work well, and some small gobies.
If you get captive bred, you will not need to feed live food. There are several seller who have CB reidi, kuda, and erectus available, which will all eat frozen mysis shrimp.
There are several good resources out there for info and livestock:
www.seahorse.org, a great place to find information, plus some breeders.
www.dracomarine.org, a source of CB seahorses, plus a lot of information
www.oceanrider.com, another supplier
and a few others I will try and track down.
You haven't said much about your setup, like tank size, filtration, live rock, etc. Depending on the size and equipment, you may not have a lot of room for anything beside the SHs. For them to be comfortable in the long term, a 29 gallon tank for a pair would be about minimun for any species except zostera (dwarf). Anything that will compete for food, which includes almost any normal fish, is not a good idea. Pipefish work well, and some small gobies.
If you get captive bred, you will not need to feed live food. There are several seller who have CB reidi, kuda, and erectus available, which will all eat frozen mysis shrimp.
There are several good resources out there for info and livestock:
www.seahorse.org, a great place to find information, plus some breeders.
www.dracomarine.org, a source of CB seahorses, plus a lot of information
www.oceanrider.com, another supplier
and a few others I will try and track down.
seahorses
Its a 55 gal pre-drilled, bio balls. live sand and rock. Of course, how do I really know if the rock is live? It came out of a tank, but...?? yes, our hearts are set on seahorses, stars, we love crabs and shrimp too. Its ok?
Its a 55 gal pre-drilled, bio balls. live sand and rock. Of course, how do I really know if the rock is live? It came out of a tank, but...?? yes, our hearts are set on seahorses, stars, we love crabs and shrimp too. Its ok?
A 55 is actually a great size for seahorses. The extra height works well for them.
If the rock was sold as live rock, then it probably is. If it was dried out in transport, then there will be a bit of die off, which is probably why you're seeing nitrite. How much have you got? Depending on the amount of LR you have, you may not need the bioballs.
There are many species of invertebrates you can keep with seahorses. Many kinds of shrimp, stars and some species of crab will work well. Some stars and crabs are carnivorous, so be a little careful.
If the rock was sold as live rock, then it probably is. If it was dried out in transport, then there will be a bit of die off, which is probably why you're seeing nitrite. How much have you got? Depending on the amount of LR you have, you may not need the bioballs.
There are many species of invertebrates you can keep with seahorses. Many kinds of shrimp, stars and some species of crab will work well. Some stars and crabs are carnivorous, so be a little careful.
ok, dumb question
what makes it live? I assumed it was bacterias and such. I only have about 25 lbs. I thought that if I put in any more, I would have less room forr my friends. You know the old ' 1 inch of fish per gallon' rule. I obviously have less gallons if I have more rock. Input?
what makes it live? I assumed it was bacterias and such. I only have about 25 lbs. I thought that if I put in any more, I would have less room forr my friends. You know the old ' 1 inch of fish per gallon' rule. I obviously have less gallons if I have more rock. Input?
Yep, it's the bacteria that make it live.
Because live rock provides top-notch biological filtration, it will actually increase the fish capacity of the tank. There is the issue of having room for the seahorses to swim, but 1 lb/gallon (even better 1.5) will go a long way toward having a healthy stable tank, without the need for bioballs or other such media. Properly aquascaped, the rock can make a nice pile for the invertebrates to live in and on, but leave plenty of swimming room for the horses.
Wet/dry filters are excellent for converting ammonia to nitrite then nitrate, but you are then stuck with the nitrate. Live rock helps get rid of the nitrate as well, reducing the possibility and severity of algae blooms among other benefits.
As far as stocking goes, the inch-per-gallong rule is not widely used anymore. Three pairs of medium-sized species would go well in your tank, but any more would be pushing it.
Because live rock provides top-notch biological filtration, it will actually increase the fish capacity of the tank. There is the issue of having room for the seahorses to swim, but 1 lb/gallon (even better 1.5) will go a long way toward having a healthy stable tank, without the need for bioballs or other such media. Properly aquascaped, the rock can make a nice pile for the invertebrates to live in and on, but leave plenty of swimming room for the horses.
Wet/dry filters are excellent for converting ammonia to nitrite then nitrate, but you are then stuck with the nitrate. Live rock helps get rid of the nitrate as well, reducing the possibility and severity of algae blooms among other benefits.
As far as stocking goes, the inch-per-gallong rule is not widely used anymore. Three pairs of medium-sized species would go well in your tank, but any more would be pushing it.
For the original question, pipefish, gobies, and some blennies are all good tankmates.
I'm hesitant to suggest it, but if you have enough live rock a mandarin dragonet would be compatible as well.
I'm hesitant to suggest it, but if you have enough live rock a mandarin dragonet would be compatible as well.
Although they would be behaviorally compatible, I would worry about them competing for food. Both eat small crustaceans, and the SHs may eat enough to keep cause the dragonet to starve.FreddytheFish said:
Would it really be a problem if you had a lot of LR and fed the SHs regularly? I was under the impression that they were ideal tankmates. :huh:
hmmm
wondering about all this live rock vs. wet/dry stuff. Is this cause for concern, WILL I end up with too much nitrate? I dont have much live rock yet, do I need to make a decision about one or the other? BTW, thinking about a seperate tank for SH. Maybe live rock and a canister in a smaller tank? My son really loves the dragonettes, maybe Ill put him in the big tank!
wondering about all this live rock vs. wet/dry stuff. Is this cause for concern, WILL I end up with too much nitrate? I dont have much live rock yet, do I need to make a decision about one or the other? BTW, thinking about a seperate tank for SH. Maybe live rock and a canister in a smaller tank? My son really loves the dragonettes, maybe Ill put him in the big tank!