seahorse questions

[Ark6ie]

im not going to set this up straight away (im not game enough lol), but im interested in keeping seahorses. are they hard to look after? what size tank do they need, do they need coral or anything? and is it possible for them to breed in captivity? thanks for any replys :11:

[cocoa_pleco]

heres an article

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

i would recommend starting out with some hardier fish. these guys are a bit difficult.

they are cool though. my LFS has a 300g long with 2x1500w MH fixtures and 500lbs LR, and they sell corals from it. for show fish they have a pair of seahorses and some fish and shrimp.

I believe a 4ft tank is a 55g so you could use your empty 4ft for some seahorses

[Ark6ie]

cool link cocoa.... so 2 seahorses need a big tank??? strange since theyre so little, but i do believe you. and do they breed in captivity?

[cocoa_pleco]

not 100% sure but i think under NSW (natural saltwater conditions) its possible.

theyre small, but they need their room.

[Ark6ie]

cool, just another question while im talking bout saltwater tanks... are clown fish hard to keep? and what size tank do they need? im assuming they need some coral or something aswell yeah?

[cocoa_pleco]

clownfish dont need corals. they will host in anemones but it isnt needed and anemones are for experts and hi-tech tanks.

a minimum tank for a clown fish would be a 10g (about 40l) with 10lbs LR.

[Ark6ie]

ok thanks again cocoa, your the bomb!!!! lol

[cocoa_pleco]

lol, no problem.

you can skip out on some LR too. a full 10lbs would look the best but only 5lbs would work too.

[Ark6ie]

would i need to have more than one clown fish? id be worried it might get "lonely"

[cocoa_pleco]

one would be okay with itself, but 2 is possible. just get some smaller clwonfish like tank raised clownfish.

or, you could get a firefish and a tank raised clownfish

[Ark6ie]

now im considering setting this up hey lol, :help:

[cocoa_pleco]

a basic 10g isnt hard to get going. all you need is-

a 10g tank
for a tank without corals, a regular fluorescent light, with corals it needs more explanation
a HOB filter
50w heater
substrate (argonite, or live sand is best)
5-10lbs LR
sea salt mix
a hydrometer

[Ark6ie]

and are clowns fairly easy to keep? oh and what do they eat?

[cocoa_pleco]

clowns are easy to keep. they eat spirulina flakes and saltwater flakes. they also may take some dried seaweed and saltwater pellets

[Ark6ie]

thanks for your help cocoa, as soon as the fish room is set ill, set up a clown tank :) i cant wait. when i do im sure you will hear from me with loads more questions lol

[Nautilus29]

I get a couple of fish mag. and in one of them I remember reading about keeping and mating seahorses. If I find the mag. maybe I will write what they have in there about seahorses.

[2manyfish]

The best place for seahorse information is [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Seahorses breed all the time in captivity. Most don't need huge tanks in fact some, if the tank is too big, will end up starving because they can't find their food well enough. Live rock for them is often a big no-no as it can harbor hydra which will kill the fry.
Very cool animals......at one point I wanted to keep some but realized I just didn't have the time to spend on them.