Why can you keep pipefish in warmer temperatures, but not seahorses?

ThePurple12 · 12/02/2019, 05:48 PM

They're both pretty much the same except for shape, so why can pipefish thrive in 80 degree water and not seahorses/why does vibrio affect seahorses much more than pipefish?

Is it because pipefish aren't captive-bred and come straight from the tropical ocean and seahorses, generally being captive-bred, have adapted to cooler temperatures?

Or maybe wild caught pipefish and seahorses just have stronger immune systems from being exposed to vibrio?

Anyone know?

rayjay · 12/04/2019, 11:37 AM

IMO, the MAIN reason is that seahorses just don't have as great an immune system as the pipe fish. They are MUCH more susceptible to pathogens than pipe fish are, especially bacteria related.

ThRoewer · 12/06/2019, 05:19 AM

There are many families and species of pipefish and a large number of them are actually found in subtropical or temperate waters, and some even in freshwater. Seahorses, on the other hand, are predominantly found in tropical and equatorial waters. And most seahorse species prefer shallower waters with seagrass meadows. Just based on that I would think that seahorses should want it warmer and not cooler than pipefish.

The reason why people generally suggest to keep seahorses cooler is that seahorse tanks are much "dirtier" (more bacteria due to uneaten food and rather low flow) than their natural habitats (which should btw. be significantly "dirtier" than reef biotopes.)

rayjay · 12/06/2019, 11:51 AM

Actually, seahorse tanks should have great flow, with areas of high medium and low flow and hitching in each area so that they can chose just where to be at any given time. Normal recommendation is at least 10X tank volume but many of us long term keepers have flows of 20X and more.
Many seahorses come from waters that are higher in temperatures but their water is always changing. In our tanks, everything is captive including the bacteria beds that cause the seahorses so much trouble. Excessive cleaning and larger more frequent water changes help to alleviate the "dirty" water they create, but also we keep the temperatures cooler to lessen the grow of those bacteria. (68°-74°F)
Bacteria multiply EXPONENTIALLY with each rising degree, and it becomes much more problematic when temperature gets above 74°.

ThePurple12 · 12/08/2019, 06:52 AM

Thanks, your answers make sense

12/02/2019, 05:48 PM	#1
ThePurple12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Virginia Posts: 506	Why can you keep pipefish in warmer temperatures, but not seahorses? They're both pretty much the same except for shape, so why can pipefish thrive in 80 degree water and not seahorses/why does vibrio affect seahorses much more than pipefish? Is it because pipefish aren't captive-bred and come straight from the tropical ocean and seahorses, generally being captive-bred, have adapted to cooler temperatures? Or maybe wild caught pipefish and seahorses just have stronger immune systems from being exposed to vibrio? Anyone know?

12/04/2019, 11:37 AM	#2
rayjay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,969	IMO, the MAIN reason is that seahorses just don't have as great an immune system as the pipe fish. They are MUCH more susceptible to pathogens than pipe fish are, especially bacteria related. __________________ Seahorses. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses

12/06/2019, 05:19 AM	#3
ThRoewer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 9,555	There are many families and species of pipefish and a large number of them are actually found in subtropical or temperate waters, and some even in freshwater. Seahorses, on the other hand, are predominantly found in tropical and equatorial waters. And most seahorse species prefer shallower waters with seagrass meadows. Just based on that I would think that seahorses should want it warmer and not cooler than pipefish. The reason why people generally suggest to keep seahorses cooler is that seahorse tanks are much "dirtier" (more bacteria due to uneaten food and rather low flow) than their natural habitats (which should btw. be significantly "dirtier" than reef biotopes.) __________________ Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio 3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...

12/06/2019, 11:51 AM	#4
rayjay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,969	Actually, seahorse tanks should have great flow, with areas of high medium and low flow and hitching in each area so that they can chose just where to be at any given time. Normal recommendation is at least 10X tank volume but many of us long term keepers have flows of 20X and more. Many seahorses come from waters that are higher in temperatures but their water is always changing. In our tanks, everything is captive including the bacteria beds that cause the seahorses so much trouble. Excessive cleaning and larger more frequent water changes help to alleviate the "dirty" water they create, but also we keep the temperatures cooler to lessen the grow of those bacteria. (68°-74°F) Bacteria multiply EXPONENTIALLY with each rising degree, and it becomes much more problematic when temperature gets above 74°. __________________ Seahorses. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses

12/08/2019, 06:52 AM	#5
ThePurple12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Virginia Posts: 506	Thanks, your answers make sense