Starting to raise seahorses

[Edd]

Im starting a seahorse tank and its 129 gallons it has a filter and an ulta violet sterilizer and the proper heaters. I might be getting coral and seagrass. I just need to know if there is anything else i might need? Also do seahorses get along with crabs? and if they do will they mate with crabs in the tank? Thanks
Edd

[VWD]

Welcome to The Reef Tank




Thats a large tank, they will do ok in that size of tank, but at feeding time you may loose allot of food, depends on how many seahorses you have and if you can train them to feed at a feeding station.
The sea grass is fine and some corals. I don't know what corals you are thinking about, Remember they can handle flow but you don't want to blast them.

The crabs will depend on what type of crab you get, Anything that can grab the SH's will harm them.

And for the seahorses get only captive bred and raised ones, Make sure they are feeding on frozen food also.

More information on what you are planing please, Type of SH's Corals , Crabs and So

[Edd]

I am getting captive bred and raised dwarf seahorses probably about 6 of them.
For the type of crabs im possibly getting 2-3 pom pom crabs, 2-3 blue knuckle hermit crabs, and 2-3 halloween hermit crabs.

[Larry Mc]

for the dwarf seahorses you need a small tank. They will starve in that size. I just started raising dwarf seahorses this month. We have already had 17 born from 2 males and have 1 more preg.

[VWD]

I agree with larryMC on smaller tank for Dwarfs

[Siberman]

Dwarves don't hunt their food in the same sense as the larger species. They tend to hang around and wait for it to come to them so you need to concentrate the feedings near them (thus the recommendations of a smaller tank). IME, they don't do well on a diet consisting solely of brine shrimp. They need pods. I would think that a large tank with a huge pod population (something that would support a mandarin) could sustain them but I have yet to experiment with the idea.

Don't use crabs. If they don't harass the adults, they more than likely will hunt any fry you get.

Research your coral choices. Ponies like to grab onto anything they can and the sting of some (most?) corals could hurt or even kill them.

[mielikkishunt]

hmm, would a 10 gallon be too big for dwarf horses?

[YLChik]

Originally Posted by mielikkishunt

hmm, would a 10 gallon be too big for dwarf horses?

most of the posts I have read say yes ... like 3-5 gallon tanks are used i think. I think you'd need a TON of dwarfs in a 10 gallon.

[Larry Mc]

I have mine in a 5gal. and I worry wondering if they are getting enough food or not..You have to keep alot of food in with them at all times. They are real lazy they won't swim after food. If they can't reach it they will ignore it.

[mielikkishunt]

nah, don't want a ton, wondering if they'd be a good, non competitive buddy for a goby for my nano tank

[aquawolf]

Originally Posted by mielikkishunt

nah, don't want a ton, wondering if they'd be a good, non competitive buddy for a goby for my nano tank

Unless your heart is totally set on the dwarfs, you should look into the Reidis. They don't get terribly big and are active hunters they would probably do quite well in your nano. We have 2 of them in our 29 and they were fine with a pair of baby percula clowns.

Good luck!

[mielikkishunt]

thanks Aqua, no not set on dwarfs, they're just cheaper LOL. . .will look into the Reidis

[aquawolf]

I know what you mean and it seems like the price just keeps climbing, and that is if you can even find them in stock.

Good luck finding what you are looking for at a decent price. I have one LFS 2 hours away that we got our last ones from and am going to see if he can get any more in at the price he had before, $40 each.

[mielikkishunt]

that's not bad, I've seen some of the sea horses for almost $100.

[aquawolf]

Yes, but I am not sure what prices he may want now as the cost of shipping everything continues to rise. Let me now if you find any.