Where to buy Captive Bred Seahorses?

[Flipturn88]

Does anyone know of a good local place where captive bread seahorses are sold--or a good online store? I am planning a seahorse tank, and I want to start off with a pair of CB H.Erectus for many reasons (hardiness, the eat frozen food, etc).

Thanks,
Kayla

[MyReef]

Might look at Imagine Ocean in Canton. I know Jenn used to raise Seahorses or at least knew where to get good ones. www.imagineocean.com

[SShindell]

Hello -

Sometimes www. marinedepotlive.com has them - but they are currently out of stock. www.oceanrider.com also has them, but they tend to be pricey and the shipping takes two days from Hawaii.

Marine Fish (in Marietta) was able to get some in the past - but that was some time ago...

Let me know if you find other places as I am also currently looking to restock my seahorse tank.

Thanks,

Margi

[Flipturn88]

Thanks Andy. I have been talking to Jenn via email, and she says that she could order me CB H. Kuda and H. Procerus, but right now the hurriccane has hurt many wholesalers. I will probably end up ordering from her because they would be CB and from a local LFS.

Margi, I would also talk to Jenn if you are interested.

Thanks again,
Kayla

[RobinsonFam1]

Jenn is the way to go on seahorses. we have never had any but have talked to her extensively and she knows her stuff. With us Jenn has always been very well to work with and helpfull. just wish she was closer to our place.

[SShindell]

Hi all -

I agree - Jenn is great with seahorses!

I e-mailed Marinedepotlive - they are getting more in about 2 - 3 weeks from now - have to keep checking because they sell out VERY QUICKLY. I have had very good luck with this company in the past.

Margi

[Flipturn88]

Are their horses CB? Thanks.

[SShindell]

Hi again -

By the way - Jenn's website is www.imagine-ocean.com - and in addition to seahorses she is great at crocheting too (she crocheted a blanket for my youngest a couple of years ago when he was born).

I really have to get up to Canton to see her shop - I haven't been there in FOREVER... She said that ORA was wiped out by the hurricanes - but might be getting stock again soon - she said she would let me know if she heard anything.

Margi

[SShindell]

And YES MarineDepotLive has captive bred seahorses - when they can get them... I would never again get a wild caught seahorse... (been there, did that - it was a disaster).

Margi

[Ghotit]

make sure you realy read up on the demands of seahorses befor you plunge into it. i was planing on a sea horse or mantis shrimp setup. wound up going with the mantis.

[SShindell]

Thanks - Actually I have had numerous seahorses and have learned mostly how to keep them (hence my aversion to wild caught ones!) - I would love to discuss seahorse care if anyone is interested - you do need a lot of planning - but the upkeep once set up correctly isn't all that difficult.

Thanks,

Margi

[Flipturn88]

I would love any suggestions from any Seahorse people!!! I am doing tons of research before attempting this, do not fear .

I do have one question...The tank is a 20 gal high. I was planning on using LR and an Aquaclear power filter mini (with carbon in the insert) for filtration. Is that enough? I will do weekly water changes of 2 gallons dilligently as well. Thanks.

[Daytona955]

I know that Aquarium Showcase has caried them and they were in their clam tank I thought. Not positive as they are too fragile for me to try at this time, I did not give them a big look...they may have been pipe fish.

[Flipturn88]

Oh I love aquarium showcase! I'll give them a call when it gets closer to the time that I will get them.

[Ray1214]

Make sure if you are planning for little ones to cover the filter intakes. One other trick that seemed to work for me was to buy to little powerheads, and point them next to and against the glass. The diverted flow was low enough the dwarf seahorses still had flow but not blown around. (I think they were 32 GPH but not sure), and the tank had some flow.
Make sure you decapsulated Brine Shrimp Eggs prior to using them for the babies. Jenn had a theory, and it seemed to hold true for me and her, that you have less hydroid problems if you decasulate the Brine shrimp eggs first. I have found that to be true. Also if you are using live rock, be very careful. Hydroids and small anemonies are the bane of seahorses.
My current pipefish setup is a 20 gal high, with a 10 gal wet dry and skimmer. I have about 30 pounds of rock and a 5 inch crushed coral bed. I use a screen to keep the fishes out of the overflow. I feed with live brine/baby brine daily. Sometimes use frozen cyclops eeze, and tiny feeder guppies. I have found that one or two from a feeding hide well enough, and I have about 2 guppies in the tank with them. (All my feeder guppies are raised in saltwater and gutloaded prior to feeding).
One of my pipefish relish frozen mysis, but the other ones seemed to only go after live foods.

Ray