sea horses

harleymike

Super Active Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2012
Location
Courtright, Ontario
Ok, my daughter is buggging me about getting some sea horses.
I was thinking of tying a second 15 gallon tank into my current 15 gallon system which has a 25 gallon sump
Any thoaughts, or suggestions.
I will google it of course and do research
thanks
Mike
 

unibob

Distinguished Member
Website Affiliate
Joined
Mar 15, 2012
Location
St Thomas
harleymike link said:
Ok, my daughter is buggging me about getting some sea horses.
I was thinking of tying a second 15 gallon tank into my current 15 gallon system which has a 25 gallon sump
Any thoaughts, or suggestions.
I will google it of course and do research
thanks
Mike

Need totally different temperature then a reef I believe.
 

harleymike

Super Active Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2012
Location
Courtright, Ontario
Just did some more reading on seahorse. 78 deg is good, for the right type of seahorse.
Might give it a try.
I'll look at frog fish. Not sure what they are. thanks
 

yveterinarian

Super Active Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2012
Location
Innerkip, Ontario
It is very difficult to get seahorses in Canada that are able to exist in the temperatures you are wanting.  Currently, there are only H. Kuda, H. Erectus, H. Zosterae and if you are lucky, H. Reidi.  All need lower temperatures.  This is to help prevent the increase in pathogens in the system. H. Zosterae will only eat live food so are difficult to keep.

Also, it's not just the temperature.  The seahorses do not do well in a system tied into any other system because they are not immune to the pathogens that can be present.  While they may do fine in the Ocean, in a concentrated environment like an aquarium these pathogens will kill them before you have a chance to get to know them.

Even mixing seahorse breeds is very risky and usually ends with the death of one or both breeds.  Seahorses are not cheap and to go to all the trouble of finding some only to have them die is heartbreaking. (believe me, I have lived it)

I would suggest setting up the 15 gallon to house some dwarf fish that you may not be able to see in your larger system.  I saw some really cool fish once in Big Al's that only got to be about 3/4" long but for the life of me I can't remember what they were.  I remember asking them about these fish and were told they were great for a small tank.  I do remember that they were yellow...
 

yveterinarian

Super Active Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2012
Location
Innerkip, Ontario
Here is a link to an article I wrote previously that will explain things better than I did in the previous post. http://www.thefragtank.ca/forum/index.php?topic=3722.0

If your daughter wants to meet some seahorses, you are welcome to come and meet my 6 and ask any questions she may have.
 

harleymike

Super Active Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2012
Location
Courtright, Ontario
yveterinarian link said:
Here is a link to an article I wrote previously that will explain things better than I did in the previous post. http://www.thefragtank.ca/forum/index.php?topic=3722.0

If your daughter wants to meet some seahorses, you are welcome to come and meet my 6 and ask any questions she may have.

Thanks Greatly appreciated. Maybe we will look at something else.
 

sunnykita

Super Active Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Location
Woodstock, Ontario
a trip to Yvette's to see her lovelies would be wonderful.  They are absolutely adorable and personality plus. The up side is a great visit to see some beautiful tanks, the down side would probably be explaining why you can't keep seahorses in a 15 gallon tank LOL
good luck finding the right fish for your daughter. What about a pair of clownfish?
 

Jewel

Guest
Joined
Oct 11, 2011
Location
Wingham Ontario
Sea Horses are great But, There can be problems, If by chance you have to feed them by hand, It's not easy then there are problems with air sacks. Best to leave them to people who know what to do. There's lots of Gobies and small fishes to get for a 15 GL tank.
 
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