Question about seahorses

Eashton123 · 09/08/2006, 12:16 PM

My Girlfriend wants a seahorse, And I want Clown, Wrasse, Blennies, and Gobies.. I have read that seahorses are for an all seahorse tank. I was wondering from experience what do you guys/gals think about mixing fish and seahorses?

snowlancer2720 · 09/08/2006, 02:53 PM

hey, i posted this on another post a few days ago, but it I think it applies here also..

"i would pass on the clowns... even the most passive of fish will be to much for the horses IMO. at lest from what i have experienced. I had a firefish in mine that never bothered anyone, and the seahorses wouldnt eat because they were scared i believe; as soon as i took it out they were eating again......good luck with it though, i would get a pipefish also, although, i dont want it getting sucked into my filter "

all in all, i would just stick with with what you really want from the tank..if you want something that is very active, i would forget about the seahorses and do the clown, wrasse, blenny, goby thing..but if you want something calm id go with the seahorses..I have 2 tanks 1 of each...and i like both, but thats just my 2cents

good luck!

djc1026 · 09/08/2006, 03:21 PM

I have fish and seahorses together, so it can be done. However, if you're just starting out, I wouldn't mix until you know more.

Dave

seahorsedreams · 09/08/2006, 11:57 PM

If you pick appropriate fish you can mix them with horses. I personally won't be doing it because I have CB horses and nothing WC is getting mixed in with them. I didn't pay CB prices and have them shipped in to make them no "better" than the WC cheaper versions that are at the LFS.

pledosophy · 09/09/2006, 02:10 AM

I would skip the clown, the wrasse, and many of the blennies IME. I have kept many fish with seahorses without incident IME. You do need to be careful with selection.

The safest way to go is Dreamers advice, but I think I would get bored.

Fredfish · 09/10/2006, 11:23 PM

There are a number of fish species you can keep with horses.

There is a good article at seahorse.org in their library listing fish and their compatibility.

I would start with horses and, once they are established, ad other fish.

It also depends what size tank you have and how many horses you want to keep.

Fred.

Crued · 09/13/2006, 04:27 PM

i have a tank bred ocearis clown in with my seahorses, he does fine. i would only do 1, in groups 1 may become dominate, and that may ruin the tank. gobies no problem. wrasses, i would not do. if they are not timid, they are fast and heavy eaters. and sometimes a wrasse will totally change it's disposition and become a regular 'ole bastard to the rest of the tank.

Quote:

Originally posted by Eashton123
My Girlfriend wants a seahorse, And I want Clown, Wrasse, Blennies, and Gobies.. I have read that seahorses are for an all seahorse tank. I was wondering from experience what do you guys/gals think about mixing fish and seahorses?

ReefNutPA · 09/13/2006, 04:49 PM

Sorry Crued, I'd still not recommend a clownfish in a seahorse tank. In time, clownfish cause too many problems not only by their swimming patterns and behavior but by becoming more aggressive as they age. Most who tried adding clowns had to remove them within a few months as the seahorses became too stressed.

Tom

Crued · 09/13/2006, 04:54 PM

i've yet to see the tank bred clowns act that way, and i've kept those for over 7 years. i switched from reef to seahorses and am only into it for 18 months, but i have 0 worries about my clown in relation to my seahorses. i'm sure tank size matters, mine being a 180.

Quote:

Originally posted by ReefNutPA
Sorry Crued, I'd still not recommend a clownfish in a seahorse tank. In time, clownfish cause too many problems not only by their swimming patterns and behavior but by becoming more aggressive as they age. Most who tried adding clowns had to remove them within a few months as the seahorses became too stressed.

Tom

pledosophy · 09/13/2006, 08:27 PM

My tank bred clowns acted that way, but the tank was only a 44g.

TamiW · 09/13/2006, 11:02 PM

It depends on many factors, but it is doable with caution. First, I'd say do it in as large of a tank as you can. The only clowns that I would consider are ocellaris. Try and get them to bond with a seahorse safe host - One pair I have loves hairy mushrooms and another hangs out in xenia. From my experience, those that have a host stay in a very small area. Actually mind don't even seem to notice seahorses as being fish, and only once did I ever notice them bothering seahorses; when a seahorse was actually hitched across the hairy mushroom pair's eggs.

Wrasses you'll be pretty limited with, but six lines do well most of the time. Most fairy wrasses will do fine too. I like the purple headed fairy wrasse (also called ruby or red headed, depending), they're very peaceful fish.

Gobies, you'll have a hard time finding one that WON'T work.

Blennies you have to be careful with. Most of the algae eating ones will harass seahorses to death. However swimming blennies do fine (for the most part). I would still keep an eye on them.

If this is your first tank; then I suggest building up the animals slowly. Always a good policy, but especially in this case because it will give you time to familiarize yourself with the interactions of the animals and what is normal behavior. If this is your first time to saltwater, I would start with gobies, after six months, get seahorses, after a few more months, get your wrasse. After a few more months, get your blennies, and last, the clownfish.

You will have to watch with feeding too, as mixing these types of fish can easily out compete seahorses for their dinner. I would recommend training the seahorses to a feeding station.

whatnot45 · 09/14/2006, 12:15 AM

Well I can allways recomend keeping jawfish and daimond goby's with seahorses. They are great little fish that make a burrow in the substrate and never ventrue far from it thus they never bother the horses.

r2odie · 09/20/2006, 07:01 PM

FishGrrl,
where can i find out more about setting up a feeding station?

whatnot45 · 09/20/2006, 07:24 PM

http://www.seahorse.com/Aquarium_Lif...eding_Station/

ReefWidowed · 09/24/2006, 09:51 PM

As far as a Wrasse, I have a female bird wrasse....and as much as I love her, she has severely limited her tankmates, she eats any sort of shrimp, including ones that look way too big for her, and while she so far doesn't go after other fish or inverts she is very very very active, in fact when the lights are on, you almost never see her slow down and enjoys chasing some of her tankmates, and that would put an awful lot of stress on seahorses

Ralph ATL · 10/15/2006, 08:14 PM

test

Poniegirl · 10/18/2006, 11:29 PM

I disagree with a large tank when planning anything other than a seahorse only tank. Over a 55 gal you run into issues with being able to assure yourself that the horses get sufficient food. The larger tank will require higher water flow (or exhaustive maintenance!) than might be desirable for seahorses.
I think the tankmate issue depends on how you see the tank 1, 2 years down the road. You should look at that aspect, not plan only for the moment.
Time between adding new mates, as Fishgrrl says, is a MUST. Seahorses first, then a tankmate 3 to 6 months from then. If you have not kept seahorses before now, definitely keep them by themselves for at least 3 months. You will need to learn their habits and needs.
Add ONE fish that is a juvie. And again allow enough time to let the tankmates and you settle into a pattern.
It is slow, but it can be done.

09/08/2006, 12:16 PM	#1
Eashton123 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 129	Question about seahorses My Girlfriend wants a seahorse, And I want Clown, Wrasse, Blennies, and Gobies.. I have read that seahorses are for an all seahorse tank. I was wondering from experience what do you guys/gals think about mixing fish and seahorses?

09/08/2006, 03:21 PM	#3
djc1026 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lawton Posts: 1,061	I have fish and seahorses together, so it can be done. However, if you're just starting out, I wouldn't mix until you know more. Dave __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 150 gallon FOWLR -- 29 Gal Misc

09/08/2006, 11:57 PM	#4
seahorsedreams Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 1,993	If you pick appropriate fish you can mix them with horses. I personally won't be doing it because I have CB horses and nothing WC is getting mixed in with them. I didn't pay CB prices and have them shipped in to make them no "better" than the WC cheaper versions that are at the LFS. __________________ RENEE aka R. Hixson-Cole in a ReefLife Magazine near you! a.k.a Lionfish Lair

09/09/2006, 02:10 AM	#5
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	I would skip the clown, the wrasse, and many of the blennies IME. I have kept many fish with seahorses without incident IME. You do need to be careful with selection. The safest way to go is Dreamers advice, but I think I would get bored. __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

09/13/2006, 08:27 PM	#10
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	My tank bred clowns acted that way, but the tank was only a 44g. __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

09/08/2006, 02:53 PM	#2
snowlancer2720 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 50	hey, i posted this on another post a few days ago, but it I think it applies here also.. "i would pass on the clowns... even the most passive of fish will be to much for the horses IMO. at lest from what i have experienced. I had a firefish in mine that never bothered anyone, and the seahorses wouldnt eat because they were scared i believe; as soon as i took it out they were eating again......good luck with it though, i would get a pipefish also, although, i dont want it getting sucked into my filter " all in all, i would just stick with with what you really want from the tank..if you want something that is very active, i would forget about the seahorses and do the clown, wrasse, blenny, goby thing..but if you want something calm id go with the seahorses..I have 2 tanks 1 of each...and i like both, but thats just my 2cents good luck!

09/10/2006, 11:23 PM	#6
Fredfish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 2,661	There are a number of fish species you can keep with horses. There is a good article at seahorse.org in their library listing fish and their compatibility. I would start with horses and, once they are established, ad other fish. It also depends what size tank you have and how many horses you want to keep. Fred.

09/13/2006, 04:49 PM	#8
ReefNutPA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pottsville, PA Posts: 852	Sorry Crued, I'd still not recommend a clownfish in a seahorse tank. In time, clownfish cause too many problems not only by their swimming patterns and behavior but by becoming more aggressive as they age. Most who tried adding clowns had to remove them within a few months as the seahorses became too stressed. Tom

09/13/2006, 11:02 PM	#11
TamiW Seahorse Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Greater Milwaukee Area, WI Posts: 914	It depends on many factors, but it is doable with caution. First, I'd say do it in as large of a tank as you can. The only clowns that I would consider are ocellaris. Try and get them to bond with a seahorse safe host - One pair I have loves hairy mushrooms and another hangs out in xenia. From my experience, those that have a host stay in a very small area. Actually mind don't even seem to notice seahorses as being fish, and only once did I ever notice them bothering seahorses; when a seahorse was actually hitched across the hairy mushroom pair's eggs. Wrasses you'll be pretty limited with, but six lines do well most of the time. Most fairy wrasses will do fine too. I like the purple headed fairy wrasse (also called ruby or red headed, depending), they're very peaceful fish. Gobies, you'll have a hard time finding one that WON'T work. Blennies you have to be careful with. Most of the algae eating ones will harass seahorses to death. However swimming blennies do fine (for the most part). I would still keep an eye on them. If this is your first tank; then I suggest building up the animals slowly. Always a good policy, but especially in this case because it will give you time to familiarize yourself with the interactions of the animals and what is normal behavior. If this is your first time to saltwater, I would start with gobies, after six months, get seahorses, after a few more months, get your wrasse. After a few more months, get your blennies, and last, the clownfish. You will have to watch with feeding too, as mixing these types of fish can easily out compete seahorses for their dinner. I would recommend training the seahorses to a feeding station. __________________ Tami It's all about the snick! Current Tank Info: I have a fish room.

09/14/2006, 12:15 AM	#12
whatnot45 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: san jose california Posts: 666	Well I can allways recomend keeping jawfish and daimond goby's with seahorses. They are great little fish that make a burrow in the substrate and never ventrue far from it thus they never bother the horses.

09/20/2006, 07:01 PM	#13
r2odie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: lake worth, fl Posts: 676	FishGrrl, where can i find out more about setting up a feeding station?

09/20/2006, 07:24 PM	#14
whatnot45 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: san jose california Posts: 666	http://www.seahorse.com/Aquarium_Lif...eding_Station/

09/24/2006, 09:51 PM	#15
ReefWidowed Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Parma, Ohio Posts: 714	As far as a Wrasse, I have a female bird wrasse....and as much as I love her, she has severely limited her tankmates, she eats any sort of shrimp, including ones that look way too big for her, and while she so far doesn't go after other fish or inverts she is very very very active, in fact when the lights are on, you almost never see her slow down and enjoys chasing some of her tankmates, and that would put an awful lot of stress on seahorses __________________ Jennifer Clare "Holy crap...is this really what I agreed to?" Current Tank Info: sadly my tank is always the 1st casualty....hope to get a new one going by Christmas...or a 2nd puppy

10/15/2006, 08:14 PM	#16
Ralph ATL Formerly mysterybox Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA (North ATL) Posts: 1,842	test __________________ Ralph Scheriff

10/18/2006, 11:29 PM	#17
Poniegirl Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 115	I disagree with a large tank when planning anything other than a seahorse only tank. Over a 55 gal you run into issues with being able to assure yourself that the horses get sufficient food. The larger tank will require higher water flow (or exhaustive maintenance!) than might be desirable for seahorses. I think the tankmate issue depends on how you see the tank 1, 2 years down the road. You should look at that aspect, not plan only for the moment. Time between adding new mates, as Fishgrrl says, is a MUST. Seahorses first, then a tankmate 3 to 6 months from then. If you have not kept seahorses before now, definitely keep them by themselves for at least 3 months. You will need to learn their habits and needs. Add ONE fish that is a juvie. And again allow enough time to let the tankmates and you settle into a pattern. It is slow, but it can be done. __________________ "I have green eyes, silver hair, and the rest changes without notice" Anne McCaffrey Current Tank Info: 55, 20 long, a 10 ( ! )