can I add a sea horse?

BradsOcean · 03/02/2007, 07:31 PM

I have a 38 gallon tank with 2 percula clowns. Can I add a sea horse? I have heard that they wont eat if they are with other fish or something like that. Can someone help me.

Salamander · 03/02/2007, 07:37 PM

Usually best in a species tank.

IMAGINEER · 03/02/2007, 08:22 PM

depends on the the water flow in your tank , the SH will get thrown around or sucked in your overflow .

dippin61 · 03/02/2007, 08:36 PM

most likely the clowns will out compete with the seahorses for food.

generally SH's are only kept in species tanks.

BradsOcean · 03/02/2007, 08:40 PM

What is a species tank?

davocean · 03/02/2007, 08:43 PM

Seahorse only, or maybe w/ pipefish.

firewill65 · 03/02/2007, 08:43 PM

A tank that is dedicated to that one species alone. If you want SHorses...have a tank that is only SHorses.

BradsOcean · 03/02/2007, 08:49 PM

thanks for the advice

Duddly01 · 03/02/2007, 10:13 PM

I just started a seahorse tank myself and did a lot of research on this myself. I am interested in a set of Black & White clowns with my H. Kuda. They will eat, but are very slow and methodical. The only clowns that will cohabitate with larger seahorses (don't even think about the dwarfs) are the perculas (Ocellaris, true percula) BUT with caution. All others are too aggressive or too fast. Pipefish may not be a good idea. They usually don't do well in captivity from what I have read. The biggest thing is you will be making allowances for the seahorse that may not be ideal for the clowns, but not uncomfortable. You will need lower flow, lighting and temperature than your standard reef. Also, NO anemones for your clowns. There was a great set of articles in Tropical Fish Hobbyist issues January & February just about this and many other things for keeping seahorses.

acdraindrps · 03/02/2007, 10:15 PM

you can keep seahorses with other dosile fish such as pipefish. Might do ok with the clowns if you had a bigger tank. If you do buy one, try direct feeding with a turkey baster

brownsugar · 03/02/2007, 11:01 PM

I have an empty 30 gallon which is a proposed seahorse tank but did my research in terms of livestock your choices are pretty limited.

I've seen tanks with clowns and seahorses in displays co-existing but as other said better off with slow swimming tank mates.

Pipefish seem interesting but are easily harassed aswell. Personal preference really.

With a 38 you could do a pretty decent Nano

. What lights ? How much live rock ? Powerheads? Skimmer/Filtration your running ?

03/02/2007, 07:31 PM	#1
BradsOcean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Island Posts: 1,173	can I add a sea horse? I have a 38 gallon tank with 2 percula clowns. Can I add a sea horse? I have heard that they wont eat if they are with other fish or something like that. Can someone help me. __________________ the low cost of 3 Ramen meals a day is feeding my zoa addiction Current Tank Info: had a few small reefs in the past, researching for my future 125 :)

03/02/2007, 07:37 PM	#2
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	Usually best in a species tank. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

03/02/2007, 08:22 PM	#3
IMAGINEER Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ORLANDO/CHARLOTTE Posts: 190	depends on the the water flow in your tank , the SH will get thrown around or sucked in your overflow . __________________ LORD OF THE EEL !!

03/02/2007, 08:36 PM	#4
dippin61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,897	most likely the clowns will out compete with the seahorses for food. generally SH's are only kept in species tanks. __________________ Reefers Law: It can take about 48 hours to brown, and 48 weeks to color back up! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon BB Low Iron Glass, Dual 110w VHO Actinics, 250w PFO MH 20k XM

03/02/2007, 08:40 PM	#5
BradsOcean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Island Posts: 1,173	What is a species tank? __________________ the low cost of 3 Ramen meals a day is feeding my zoa addiction Current Tank Info: had a few small reefs in the past, researching for my future 125 :)

03/02/2007, 08:43 PM	#6
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Seahorse only, or maybe w/ pipefish. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/02/2007, 08:43 PM	#7
firewill65 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 746	A tank that is dedicated to that one species alone. If you want SHorses...have a tank that is only SHorses.

03/02/2007, 08:49 PM	#8
BradsOcean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Island Posts: 1,173	thanks for the advice __________________ the low cost of 3 Ramen meals a day is feeding my zoa addiction Current Tank Info: had a few small reefs in the past, researching for my future 125 :)

03/02/2007, 10:13 PM	#9
Duddly01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Valencia, SoCal Posts: 648	I just started a seahorse tank myself and did a lot of research on this myself. I am interested in a set of Black & White clowns with my H. Kuda. They will eat, but are very slow and methodical. The only clowns that will cohabitate with larger seahorses (don't even think about the dwarfs) are the perculas (Ocellaris, true percula) BUT with caution. All others are too aggressive or too fast. Pipefish may not be a good idea. They usually don't do well in captivity from what I have read. The biggest thing is you will be making allowances for the seahorse that may not be ideal for the clowns, but not uncomfortable. You will need lower flow, lighting and temperature than your standard reef. Also, NO anemones for your clowns. There was a great set of articles in Tropical Fish Hobbyist issues January & February just about this and many other things for keeping seahorses.

03/02/2007, 10:15 PM	#10
acdraindrps Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: buffalo, ny Posts: 2,275	you can keep seahorses with other dosile fish such as pipefish. Might do ok with the clowns if you had a bigger tank. If you do buy one, try direct feeding with a turkey baster

03/02/2007, 11:01 PM	#11
brownsugar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 194	I have an empty 30 gallon which is a proposed seahorse tank but did my research in terms of livestock your choices are pretty limited. I've seen tanks with clowns and seahorses in displays co-existing but as other said better off with slow swimming tank mates. Pipefish seem interesting but are easily harassed aswell. Personal preference really. With a 38 you could do a pretty decent Nano . What lights ? How much live rock ? Powerheads? Skimmer/Filtration your running ?