Sea horse

[Lipreader]

Does anyone here have any experince with Sea Horse? I'm just curious because I think they are cute and I haven't seen any in awhile but I bet I can find one at a Mom and Pop fish store. I was just wondering if anyone know what it takes to care for them. They are probably only saltwater fish, not freshwater.

 

[wuvmybetta]

strictly salt
a lady just gave my lfs about 300 babies,they're smaller than brine shrimp and ohhhh sooo cute
I'm highly considering setting up my spare tank and making it marine, by the time a few of them are ready for a home the tank should be ready. But all I know about them so far is that they're salt water only

 

[Elisabeth]

Definitely saltwater only, and from what I've heard they're really hard to keep alive

 

[impur]

Captive seahorses only live about 8 months to a year I believe. Thats with perfect conditions, which are very hard to maintain. Also, they cannot be kept with fish because they are slow and feeding them is a chore.

If you are considering saltwater, you might look into a nano reef. I am gonna do this in my empty 10 gal when i move. Check out www.nano-reef.com. Its pretty inexpensive, allows you to have a fish or two, and the corals and inverts are just spectacular.

 

[Gibbo]

A difficulty arises with current (very, very gentle, difficult to achieve in Marine setups) and 'fronds' for tail anchorage. They don't 'hunt' food but catch it passing (planctonic animals). Rottifers are needed to feed the young, and thats if you can get them feeding. Saying that though, with technology getting better, there should be ways and means pretty soon and more people writing of their experiences with these fascinating little fish can only make it easier for others to take on the task.

 

[dolphin]

Hi Lipreader

I have just been talking to a guy, over here in the UK who is breeding seahorses. As with most hard to keep fish. The better we get at recreating they natural enviroment, the easier it is to keep and breed them.

 

[Lipreader]

Thanks for the info guys and gals! I will probably hold off on getting one until I'm more experinced. I wouldn't want to take a chance of hurting them and I can imagine they are delicate. I have seen them from time to time when I was younger and I just think they are cute. If I do get some(I would get three or four) I will not add any other fish, just them alone like in a ten gallon. That way they are not competing for food.

 

[elgecko]

I had kept 2 alive for 5 or 6 months, when I was around 15. Back then there was no internet to find information. I was surprised I was able to keep them alive that long. I do have a picture of one I had on my web site.

http/www.geocities.com/elgecko1989/odds_ends.html

 

[Lipreader]

Thanks for sharing your picture. After seeing it, makes me want one now! I just think that having a few would make it interesting for guest when they come over. I guess some day I just want a little bit of everything. A tank in every room! Of course before I even think to buy one I will do a good research. Thank God for internet!

Thanks a bunch!

 

[impur]

I have always thougth it would be really sweet to have a large hex tank, maybe 55 gal, with nothing but seahorses in. Or possibly just box fish. I don't think hex tanks are the best for saltwater but technology is improving so soon i bet this could be done with ease.

 

[Lipreader]

I just got some interesting info from my aunt. She said something about knowing a friend who studies sea horses. I guess she dont remember all the details that her friend told her but she said that Male sea horse are the ones that gives birth to baby sea horse! Isn't that trippy!? I am not sure how it happens and I'll trying to look on the net and see if I can find anything about it. Also she says that the male and female would mate for five weeks!

 

[Gibbo]

You could also look at some of the Pipefish. Some of these are brackish fish and are related to Seahorses. They are sporadically available, so enquire at your LFS on the possibility of them getting some in.


Try this thread on Brackish setups - gives info on Pipefish and other Brackish fish


The Brackish Water Aquarium FAQ

 

[Gibbo]

Try this link (haven't had time to look at it properly myself, hope it's useful)...


Seahorses and more....