View Full Version : First horses - advice needed
Seems as good a time as any to get some advice :) My other half has his heart set on having seahorses at some point. We're not in a position to get any at the moment as we'll be moving house within the next 9 months or so with work - moving the current tanks will be tricky enough without worrying about ponies.
I've never had seahorses so I'm trying to read as much as I can now. I understand taller is better as far as tanks go - would a D&D HQI be tall enough, and would the lights be too much for the ponies?
Am I right in thinking slower flow is better? What sort of rate should I be looking for?
What corals, if any, can they be kept with? I appreciate they need hitching posts :)
Ideally we wouldn't want too many ponies, hence the idea of using a nano or similar. Any recommended breeds?
I assume they'd be ok being kept with other slow feeders, such as mandarins? Is that right?
I've been reading around a few sites, but I like to get as many opinions and as much advice as possible. Obviously this is a long way off yet, but I prefer being prepared.
TIA, much appreciated :)
Becs
Since you were last here Becs, I finally set up a proper tank for my ponies.
Yes, the taller- around 18"+ allowing them to grow.. I would also say about 35 litres for a pair of ponies.
There must be good turnover, but not too little to allow ater to stagnate, particularly if you are on the berlin method.
If you look at the very bottom of the seahorse section, Simon (the resident seahorse fanatic!) has provided some info on what corals would be suitable.
I personally use tongan branch rock to allow 'hitching' space, lots of branchy algae (I remember the chaeto I gave you- that's pretty good too)
Corals can include mushrooms, cabbage, zoas. I know some folks have gorgonia, but IMO, the horses will 'strangle' them when hitching.
Yes, they are ok to keep with mandarins as well as pipefish.
HTH.
Cheers Viv, much appreciated :D 35 litres.....doesn't seem much, does it? Quite a shock to the system, so to speak :laugh: Esp. considering I keep each species of FW shrimp in 20l!
Any recommendation on species? Are there any that don't need such a tall tank? Not that I mind, just getting a feel for things :)
If you do get sea horses just don't keep asking them
"Why the long face?"
I'll get my coat...
Taxi for Andy? :laugh:
D'you know, I'm ashamed to say I did actually laugh :rolleyes:
35 l is actually too small. With most species a minimum of 60-100 l is recommended for the first pair with 30 - 60ish l for each pair thereafter. Have a read through Simon's 'Sticky' thread on the requirements for them.
A tall tank is better for both swimming movement (they go up and down a lot rather than side to side) but also allows them to complete courtship where the pair will often intertwine tails and rise to the surface either to display or for egg transfer.
I would definately get a tall tank for the seahorses. Pipefish are best kept with them as previously said but you could even have a couple of little coral gobies or a jawfish. I keep all those in the tank together with the seahorses and everything is fine. Mandarins are good too but I believe that they need to be put into an established tank and not a newly set up one. It's best not to keep anything that is aggressive or that is likely to steal all the seahorses food. I keep mushrooms, pipe organ coral, sinularia and various polyps in the tank with the horses. I also recommend having some algae like grape algae, razor caleurpa etc for them to hitch onto. I would also recommend Reidi as they seem to be hardy.
Hope this helps a bit.
Joanna
35 l is actually too small. With most species a minimum of 60-100 l is recommended for the first pair with 30 - 60ish l for each pair thereafter. Have a read through Simon's 'Sticky' thread on the requirements for them.
A tall tank is better for both swimming movement (they go up and down a lot rather than side to side) but also allows them to complete courtship where the pair will often intertwine tails and rise to the surface either to display or for egg transfer.
Yes fin, my tank is rather small, but at present I have only the one male reidi (should be getting a female soon!) And they are only about 2" in length. As you may recall, the tank is 'powered' up and connected to my main display tank, so in terms of filtration (I believe!) is second-to-none.
Of course, when they get bigger, its an excuse (:whistling:) for me to upgrade to something much bigger to house them correctly.
;)
Hey Viv
Thats wasn't a dig on yours mate just a general comment - I know your set up is a bit different to most with it being attached directly to your main system, and your ponies are only diddly.
Hey Viv
Thats wasn't a dig on yours mate just a general comment - I know your set up is a bit different to most with it being attached directly to your main system, and your ponies are only diddly.
Hi Fin,
No, I didn't see that as a dig! :o
Just wanted to say that my present set up can be done, albeit until the ponies grow :applause:
So no offence taken.
And Becs, sorry but forgot to mention, that Fin as well as Simon are the marine equestrians here!! :laugh:
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.