Seahorses

[MermaidMel]

Hi sorry if this is wrong to mention, as I haven't seen them spoken about, but I am interested in keeping a pair of seahorses and wondering if anyone keeps/kept them and what you can tell me about them.

I have been reading up on the internet, but it's always good to hear something first hand.

Thanks in advance x

 

[thefirethief]

Hi Mel, I'm not a keeper but its something I've been researching for the last wee while.
There are a few species that I know of available in the UK, Hippocampus reidi, H. kuda, H. Erectus and H. Abdominalis. I'm actually after Hippocampus Breviceps which is a small temperate seahorse and if you do a google>images search then you'll see my attraction. Seahorse.org is a fantastic place for information and I'd start there if you want to seriously think about getting something set up. I also recommend the book 'Seahorses, Pipefishes and their relatives' by Rudie J Kuiter which, while not going into detail about captive care, is worth every penny for the thousands of beautiful photographs and acts as the only comprehensive species identification guide.
As for keeping it seems that once you have stable water parameters, feeding is the biggest challenge and although a lot of captive bred seahorses are weaned onto frozen food, that doesn't make it as simple as it sounds. The nature of the seahorses digestive system means food passes straight through relatively undigested. So in other words, to keep a seahorse healthy they need a lot of varied food, regularly. This makes for a lot of waste which is something you will need to be prepared for. Definately seems worth the effort if you were going to make a real go of it though.

Hope thats a start,
Mark

 

[MermaidMel]

Hi Mark thanks for the reply
I was beginning to think nobody was going to reply!
I been looking into it and found simplyseahorses.co.uk too and have realised the biggest complication would be the feeding and raising the cash for the equipment. But that's cool, I tend to research new additions for a long time before taking the plunge and was thinking of turning my Aqua One 620 into a marine for a pair or I really love the idea of the dwarf/pixies, you can keep quite a few of those.
Well keep me posted if you're getting any further with getting yours and I will look into that book great tip thank you
Mel

 

[Mancunian Lee]

I havent managed to sign up myself yet but i will be doing, because the site is owned by a woman who breeds them in captivity and she is really meant to know her stuff.

http/seahorsesuk.net/forum/index.php

 

[alessasavoca]

Please continue this thread i'm looking into having a seahorse set up at some point in the future so it'd be great to hear it first hand

 

[MermaidMel]

Please continue this thread i'm looking into having a seahorse set up at some point in the future so it'd be great to hear it first hand

I think we are like the same person except we live in different houses and have different names

Yes keep it going, I am hoping more people can put something into this xxx

 

[Flagfin]

Hya - just found this thread - don't have time to reply fully now but I have kept seahorses for quite a while now (three species) Kuda, reidi and fuscus and have bred all three (although only raised Kuda successfully). I have two (of the six) marine tanks of seahorses and I can assure you they are no more costly than any other marine fish to look after (but are probably more entertaining). What specific questions do you have? Either post or mail me directly - I will help where I can (although I don't pretend to be the expert that the seahorse web guys are - but I do have first hand experience of them).

 

[MermaidMel]

Hya - just found this thread - don't have time to reply fully now but I have kept seahorses for quite a while now (three species) Kuda, reidi and fuscus and have bred all three (although only raised Kuda successfully). I have two (of the six) marine tanks of seahorses and I can assure you they are no more costly than any other marine fish to look after (but are probably more entertaining). What specific questions do you have? Either post or mail me directly - I will help where I can (although I don't pretend to be the expert that the seahorse web guys are - but I do have first hand experience of them).

Wow thanks
Only trouble my end is I've only kept FW, never marine, so would need to start from scratch. the good thing is I have a 90 litre Aqua One that is for FW or marine, so that's the tank sorted, though is currently FW set up.

I don't know anything about marine... I would need to be talked through cycling, RO etc. because I don't know and I suspect this research may take me a few months before I go for it, even without any seahorses inside it.

 

[girlwithgills]

Hya - just found this thread - don't have time to reply fully now but I have kept seahorses for quite a while now (three species) Kuda, reidi and fuscus and have bred all three (although only raised Kuda successfully). I have two (of the six) marine tanks of seahorses and I can assure you they are no more costly than any other marine fish to look after (but are probably more entertaining). What specific questions do you have? Either post or mail me directly - I will help where I can (although I don't pretend to be the expert that the seahorse web guys are - but I do have first hand experience of them).

Hi there,
I am a first timer to this whole forum thing but am really interested in your opinion. Unfortunatley I didn't do enough research before purchasing a seahorse and now very concerned about the environment I am providing. I have a 25ltr tank which houses a mandarin fish and now a 8cm seahorse. I have only had him for 2 days and he will not eat.I have tried live brine shrimp in a droper and he still will not eat. I am also very worried that the tank is too small, although the lfs has reassured me its ok.

I have a 4ft tank that is very new, with only two damsels to help it cycle. Should I take him back or take the damsels out and put him in there?
Whats the best option for him?