View Full Version : Seahorse Tank-mates.....
Thought I'd get a thread going with regards to seahorse tank mates :)
I've started compiling a basic compatability List and will be continually updating it as and when time permits,
Hopefully it may become a sticky at some point once enough information has been gatherd......
If any one has any input, suggestions or comments please post them here :)
Si
Seahorse And Coral Compatability List,
The rating system has been assessed and is based solely on the risk levels to adult juvenile and seahorse fry in general using the following criteria: temperament, food competition, venoms or toxins, there may be some exceptions to a rating based on the temperament of certain specimens, however, these ratings are based on the normal specimen's behavior pattens. This list does not take into account the particular requirments of any corals which are listed, please note that not all coral species will thrive in a seahorse environment and further reasearch is highly recommended.
This list should be used as a guide only and not a definitive reference.
Zero: Considerd completely safe, no competition for food and no issues with aggression, Corals do not posses the ability to sting, the most docile of species and also considerd to be safe with most species of seahorse fry.
Low: Considerd safe with small to large horses, there could be some minor competition for food, There are no issues with aggression and no danger to the seahorses although the corals may contain feeding tentacles (no sweepers) considerd to be safe short term with most species of seahorse fry.
Medium: These are considerd far riskier and you should proceed with extra caution. There may be some competition for food as well as a possible chance of aggression towards the seahorses,
If you're considering trying anything that is listed as Medium, please have alternative plans to house the coral should a problem arise, unsuitable for all seahorse fry.
High: There is a very good chance of either food competition or aggression. Many of the corals have the ability to either sting or otherwise indanger a seahorse, unsuitable for all seahorse fry.
Incompatible: These corals are considerd to be unsuitable in a seahorse tank, some can be highly dangerous and pose a direct threat to the seahorses life, others may be listed as incompatable due to being unable to meet the corals requirements within a seahorse environment.
Softies:
Cabbage Leather(Sinularia dura sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Carnation Coral (Dendronephthya sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=224051)
Christmas Tree Coral (Studeriotes sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Colt Coral (Alcyonium sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=228376)
Fiji Leather (Sacrophyton elegans sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=227475)
Kenya Tree (Capnella sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=224157)
Finger Leather (Sinularia flexibis sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=224160)
Finger Cauliflower (Cladiella sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=226052)
Toadstool Mushroom (Sarcophyton sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=241232)
Mushrooms:
Common Mushroom (Discosoma sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=226048)
Elephant Ear Mushroom (Rhodactis sp)
Risk Level: Incompatible
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=242195)
Florida Ric (Ricordea Florida sp)
Risk Level: Low
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=239709)
Hairy Mushroom (Rhodactis indosinensis sp)
Risk Level: Low
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=218624)
Yuma (Ricordea yuma sp)
Risk Level: Low
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=224071)
Polyps:
Anthelia (Anthelia sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=441)
Clove Polyp (Clavularia sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=225941)
Green Star Polyp (Briareum sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=434)
Palys (Palythoa sp)
Risk Level: Low
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=224305)
Pipe Organ (Tubipora musica sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=224077)
Stick/Tree Polyp (Acrozoanthus sp)
Risk Level: Medium/High
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=242204)
Xenia (Xenia sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=441)
Yellow Polyps (Parazoanthus sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=242049)
Zoas (Zoanthus sp)
Risk Level: Low
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=224155)
Sea Fans & Gorgonians:
Sea Fan (Acabaria sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=237007)
Gorgonian (Acalycigorgia inermis sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=225285)
Sea Whip (Ctenocella sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=240934)
Yellow Finger Gorgonian (Diodogorgia nodulifera sp)
Risk Level: High
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=224227)
Red Sea Fan (Echinogorgia sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=239708)
Blue Sea Fan (Euplexaura sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=226500)
Blue Sea Fan (Guaiagorgia sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=230335)
Gorgonian (Menella sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=226501)
Gorgonian (Muricea sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=240841)
Gorgonian (Pinnigorgia sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=240832)
Gorgonian (Pseudopterogorgia sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=240833)
Gorgonian (Swiftia exserta sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=224232)
LPS Corals:
Acans (Acanthastrea sp)
Risk Level: Low/Medium
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=421)
Blastos (Blastomussa sp)
Risk Level: Medium/High
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=421)
Bubbles (Plerogyra sp)
Risk Level: Incompatible
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=372)
CandyCane Coral (Caulastrea furata sp)
Risk Level: Medium/High
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=218230)
Cup/Pagoda Coral (Camposcia retusa sp)
Risk Level: Low
Doughnut/Button Coral (Cynarina/Scolymia sp)
Risk Level: High
Elegance (Catalaphyllia jardinei sp)
Risk Level: Incompatible
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=218264)
Flowerpot Coral (Stenorhynchus seticornis sp)
Risk Level: High
Fox Coral (Camposcia retusa sp)
Risk Level: Low
Frogspawn (Euphyllia sp)
Risk Level: Incompatible
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=218237)
Hammer (Euphyllia sp)
Risk Level: Incompatible
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=218234)
Lobophyllia (Lobophyllia sp)
Risk Level: Low
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=225728)
Long Tentacle Plate (Heliofungia sp)
Risk Level: Incompatible
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=420)
Short Tentacles Plate (Fungia repanda sp)
Risk Level: High
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=420)
Maze Brain (Platygyra sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=419)
Pearl Bubble (Physogyra sp)
Risk Level: Incompatible
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=372)
Pineapple Coral (Favites sp)
Risk Level: Medium/High
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=419)
Sun Coral (Tubastrea sp)
Risk Level: Zero
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=418)
Tongue Coral (Polphyllia sp)
Risk Level: Incompatible
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=218532)
Tooth Coral (Galaxea sp)
Risk Level: Incompatible
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=224254)
Torch (Euphyllia sp)
Risk Level: Incompatible
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=218224)
Trachyphyllia (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi sp)
Risk Level: Medium/High
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=218261)
Trumpet Coral (Caulastrea curvata sp)
Risk Level: Medium/High
Visual Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=218828)
Open Brain (Wellsophyllia radiata sp)
Risk Level: Medium/High
SPS Corals:
dan-the-man
27-09-08, 13:26
When you've completed this list Simon let us know and we'll sticky it for you. :)
Thanks Dan - will do :)
Cheers
Si
Good idea Simon.
Is the risk level entirely from the seahorses' point of view?
Having seen seahorse tanks with various gorgonians in them, some of which do best in a high flow environment, I've often wondered how long they last and whether the seahorses irritate the gorgonians by hitching onto them, particularly in a small tank where hitching posts are limited.
John
are you doing fish aswell as corals?
Good idea Simon.
Is the risk level entirely from the seahorses' point of view?
Having seen seahorse tanks with various gorgonians in them, some of which do best in a high flow environment, I've often wondered how long they last and whether the seahorses irritate the gorgonians by hitching onto them, particularly in a small tank where hitching posts are limited.
John
Thanks John,
The ratings are being assessed upon the risk to adult juvenile and seahorse fry in general, The risk level system is mainly based on the following: temperament/territoriality, swimming patterns, food competition, venoms and toxins, there may be some exceptions to a rating based on the temperament of certain specimens, however, the ratings are based on the normal behavior pattens of the species in question,
I'm planning to include a short article shortly explaining this in greater detail.
Yes indeed your quite right regarding gorgonians, unfortunately they don't generally do very well long term in smaller seahorse tanks, and mainly for the reasons you've described, however with larger tanks and carefull positioning it is possible to keep them happy, I have several myself that are doing quite well with regular feeding, the main problem i have is keeping them free of hair algae :rolleyes:
Si
are you doing fish aswell as corals?
Eventually, though it may take some time :)
Nice call Simon :thumbsup:
Nothing much to add except for Tree Polyps (sorry but don't know the latin).
Make great hitching posts, but like the gorgs, don't seem to last more than 6 months. Not sure if it's the hitching or the low flow rate - probably a combination of both :(
Great posting SImon!
I would be interested to see (possible) SPS tank-mates...
Oops ... better move my torch to the reef tank then!
I have got 3 Reidi ... they dont seem to be being stung by it though and they often drift through it without any drama's (it does sulk when they try to hitch on it tho).
Better safe than sorry
Nice call Simon :thumbsup:
Nothing much to add except for Tree Polyps (sorry but don't know the latin).
Make great hitching posts, but like the gorgs, don't seem to last more than 6 months. Not sure if it's the hitching or the low flow rate - probably a combination of both :(
Thanks Linda :)
Tree Polyps, would these be know as candy-tree or sponge-tree by any chance?
If I can research it i'll add it :thumbsup:
Si
Great posting SImon!
I would be interested to see (possible) SPS tank-mates...
Working on it mate :)
Si
Oops ... better move my torch to the reef tank then!
I have got 3 Reidi ... they dont seem to be being stung by it though and they often drift through it without any drama's (it does sulk when they try to hitch on it tho).
Better safe than sorry
How long has it lived with the ponys?
Glad to hear theres been no prob's, although have to agree its better to be safe than sorry ;)
Si
its strange that simply seahorses say that you can have torch corals in your seahorse tank i guess its a case by case matter
Thanks Linda :)
Tree Polyps, would these be know as candy-tree or sponge-tree by any chance?
If I can research it i'll add it :thumbsup:
Si
I can't find a latin name - sorry, but here's a couple of pics so maybe someone can ID.
It's the one on the far left in the first shot, the second is a closer shot of the top half.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s74/Feebscass/Cube/Cube261007011.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s74/Feebscass/Cube/31007007.jpg
its strange that simply seahorses say that you can have torch corals in your seahorse tank i guess its a case by case matter
Yes SS is one of the sources i've been using as a reference point, I'm also sure helen knows what she's doing when it comes to seahorses, however of the many SH sites which i'm using SS are the only one suggesting its a safe coral to house with seahorses, As i've no experience with this coral myself I decided to go with the majority view and have listed it accordingly,
Unfortunately I've been finding this alot whilst researching these corals, There are many differing opinions on coral suitability, its taken me weeks so far - cross referencing each one by one ....... Dont think I've ever read so much in my life!
edit* should also mention, on alot of the sites i'm using the corals are classed as incompatable which is sometimes due to the coral not being suitable for a seahorse environment, ie: too low flow rate etc and doesn't nessersarily mean the coral will cause any harm to a seahorse, I haven't included any detailed discriptions with the list because there are just too many differing opinions on the subject, as mentioned it is intended purely as a first step guide and further research is definately recommended :)
Thanks for the pic's Linda, i'll see if i can id it :)
I'd keep a close eye on that one Linda :)
Stick/Tree Polyp
Acrozoanthus sp.
Quick Stats: Stick/Tree Polyp
Family: Zoanthidae
Range: Indo-Pacific
Color Form: Tan, Brown
Ideal Supplements: Iodine, Trace elements
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Water Flow: Medium
Light: High
Dominance: Semi-aggressive
Placement: Medium
Care Level: Moderate
Acrozoanthus Stick Polyps are colonial animals with multiple tan or brown individual polyps attached to the discarded or dead tubes of tubeworms or fanworms. The colony is also referred to as Encrusting Stick Anemones, or Tree Polyps. The polyps have long tentacles and the ability to sting other polyps or corals, although the sting is not strong.
Stick/Tree Polyps are semi-aggressive and need space between their own colony and other corals. They require a high light level combined with a medium water movement within the aquarium. For continued good health, they also require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water.
They will reproduce in the reef aquarium on their own by budding (splitting off a portion of their base or mouth), if adequate water quality parameters are maintained.
The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within their bodies provide the majority of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis. The remainder of their nutritional requirements will need to be provided in the form of regular weekly feedings of micro-plankton or brine shrimp.
Well done on the ID, I couldn't find it anywhere.
The horses preferred that to anything else in the tank and all used to hitch on it to sleep at night :rolleyes:
It eventually started to lose polyps, I presumed because of all the hitching, and got so staggly in the end (about 6 months) I took it out.
Didn't seem to bother the horses at all though :)
great thread simion, well done
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