ATP

Hey,

I have an extra 5 gallon tank sitting around and I was thinking of dwarf seahorse.

What I know is:

-They require hatched brine shrimp
-It's best to have a species only tank because the new borns have a chance to get eaten by other fish.
-The smaller the tank, the better
-Clean up crew should be nassarus snails because hermits might kill new borns
-They should be fed twice a day
-They are not picky about salinity levels, but they can't stand rapid change
-The filter should be a sponge filter
-Limit water flow (so no power heads, power filters etc.)
-No corals because they might release seahorse might grab them and corals could release palytoxin on them

Questions:

-How many should I start with a 5 gallon?
-Are there any alternatives for food?
-If there aren't any alternatives, can I keep newly hatched brine shrimp in refrigerated bottles? (lets say for a week supply)
-How do I move them? (moving to a tank)
- Do I use a net, by hand, or a cup?
-Where do I get them? (captive)
-Any other info would help
-Can I keep the new borns in the same tank?
-For a seahorse, are they easy to care?

This would be my first seahorse tank and I probably won't set it up until spring 2010.

MaddieLynn

I saw somewhere that the maximum number for a 5 gallon is 5 pairs, but that around 3 pairs is much better.

ATP

So six seahorses? (3 pairs)

How do I move them from the container to the tank?
Does anyone know?

lorabell

hey there...Ive been doing a lot of research on them...from what Ive read u can have about 10 in a five gallon...the smaller the better...the reason for the small tank is becauseTHEY will not chase after food....in the smaller tankit would be more concentrated...so easier for them to get at it...they HAVE to have decpsulated brine...because of NASTIES that could have attached themselves to the brine shrimp and basically attack the tiny ponies(adults also), they also do not sggest LR for the same reason...most of what Ive read ..they prefer salinity to be around 1900 ...check out Seahorsesource.com...I have been trying to get them myslef...Ive had a tank set up for them for over 3 months now...lol...just waiting on them...good luck
They should never be placed in a net, need very LITTLE flow, the hardest thing Ive found so far was finding things small enough for them to post on,peppermint shrimp are suppossed to be ok with them also.My set -up is a 5 gal hex...mostly because the filter works well and is very gentle...keep me posted...love to hear what u decide!!!!!

ATP

Okay,

can I hatch the decapsulated brine then refrigerate them or do I have to feed them live? I've read that you're suppose to feed them twice so Do I have to have two containers too hatch them? (one for monring and one for night)
Do I use a cup for a seahorse? or do I hold them?
I'll try the cleaner shrimp with them.
Does it matter what type of macro algae I put?
The brine shrimp thing lowered my motivation a little bit because I'm taking care of 6 tanks, but I'm still going to try it.

Thanks for the help
Appreciate it

lorabell

I felt the same way...but I have other fish that can also eat the brine,I also thought that I would freeze some of the leftovers,also to use for other fish, there is an awesome book out devoted entirely to them...I just got a copy from amazon for like 5 $...very,very interesting "the complete guide to Dwarf Seahorses" by Alisa Wagner Abbott..Ive learned tons from it, I am also in process of doing 37 gal,with regular ones also...hopefully they will be here soon,if u check out that sight..I also have found another one...Im checkin on it now...it will tell what can be in with them and what CANNOT, they r very hardy for SH...but also fragile...most other tankmates arent good witht them
I do have an extra copy of the book ...if inyerested..after I purchassed it a friend gave me hers

ATP

is it like scanned or hard copy? how big is it? (the book

aquarist48

Seahorse Organisation. Keeping and Breeding Seahorses in the home aquarium.
Hello. Above is a link you may find helpful.
Ken

lorabell

YEAH !!!!!!!! Ken!!!! Im checkin that one 2...thanks!!!!!! Its a hard copy....like one u would find in a pet store ...like breed specific...funny thing....the author of this book is from right next door to me.....lol (murrells inlet,sc)..that is THE NUMBER 1 SH site!!!!! Yippppppeeeeeee!!!!!!

lorabell

heres some more
http://aquatichorse.webs.com/
this is another one ..go to catolog...then seahorse....or under saltwater
http://sunpet.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.search

peacemaker92

Sorry, Wow, Ken! I'm wondering where you get all these links from. Almost every post I see you adding a useful link for our members! haha

lorabell

YES!!!!!! He does!!!!!!

ATP

ahh. thanks,

ATP

thanks, again

ATP

The brine thing doesn't sound so bad now. I thought I had to do the chlorine thing everyday. I still can't find if I could hatch the brine than refrigerate them or do they need to be live?

I'm going to put dead LR in my tank, with some Halimeda sp., sponge filter, and live sand. snails, and maybe a shrimp.

When I do water changes, do I have to be careful not to touch them? Should I use a cup to move them?

Thanks everyone

lorabell

I dont think so...I just have a very small vacume for just that purpose...even considering using just tubing..I am very sure they will only go after FRESHLY hatched brine...1.more proteins in JUST HATCHED
2. THEY WILL BE MOVING
they will need to eat a few x's a day also
the cleaning is gonna be the easiest thing....the seahorsesource has a wonderful section devoted to just the dwarfs.....I also found a DIY info inhere about doing brine is mason jars.....I just started a culture this am...just to see how it goes...as I also said Im planning on freezing the leftovers for my other fish... alittle of that stuff goes a long way....lol...as long as they hatch....let me know If I can help in any way...I'm enjoying using some of the stuff Ive been learning

ATP

okay, thanks

Can I feed them live plankton?

lorabell

I beleive their MAINSTAY are the freshly hatched brine.....(decapsulated)

ATP

brine shrimp it is than.

So my set up will be:

5 gallon tank
actinic lights
daylight lights
dead live rock
dead sand
DIY sponge filter
black background

Livestock:

Halimeda sp.
4 or 6 seahorses?
sexy shrimp?
4 astrea snail?


is this ok?

lorabell

U do sooo coool with the SW stuff!!!!!...Im pretty sure no special lighting is necessary,just standard bulbs,( I think SH dont love bright lights)...do some checking on estbishing copepods also.....lol...like I said b4 the hardest thing I was finding was hitches for them also....they r teenie.....keep me posted!!!!! Love the idea of the sexy shrimp too!!!!!! Remember u can start with 5 pair in there(dwarfs)...

ATP

Thanks

I saw on some web site that it says dwarfs do different things in the morning, afternoon, and evening so I was just thinking of buying normal lights, but change the color of the bulb.

I might start in November or December instead of next year so I'll keep everyone posted.

special thanks to lorabell for helping me on most of my question and research.

Slug

Looking forward towards this. Always loved seahorses, never had the guts to keep them just yet.

lorabell

ATP.....keep me up to date!!!! and really get into that seahorse.org.....Ive never posted in there but did tons and tons or reading.....learned a lot!!!! I am now working on my own fresh brine...just want to get all the kinks out b4 I really do it...I am also trying regualr horses first...just waiting for them to get here!!! good luck...and by the way...when I do MY REEF or folr ...Im gonna pick your brains!!!!!

ATP

While browsing at seahorse. org, I found this:
http://www.seahorse.org/library/arti...es/polyp.shtml

Is this safe for all seahorses? [I couldn't post or search on seahorse.org because they wouldn't allow me for some reason (i just made an account)]

lorabell-how big is your reef gonna be?

Thanks,

ATP

I'll start probably November or early December.

lorabell

once u get accepted to their forumn u can post questions.... awesome site!!!!!! I believe u can use those things with regular horses....NOT dwarfs...check the whole sight out and see the section devoted to dwafs only.....well i was going to do a 36 gal...but plans possibley haved changed( I HOPE)...if it can be done (IM trying to get kens 155) id I can get it up here I will move my BRP and silver $ to that....then have a 55 for salt/reef (not sure)...I would then put my puffers in the 36..at that point I would have an empty 20 gal....lol...what a shame....lol...
once u r memeber of that forumn...I beleive there is a member selling dwarfs to other members at a discounted price...if still available...check it out

ATP

I'm a little afraid to start

It's a 5 gallon tank which means:
-I have to add RO water often. (I might be able to make a water top off, but still I don't trust automatic water top offs that much.
-I have to check water parameters often
-Dwarfs can't stand rapid changes which is the problem with small tanks that they often have rapid changes.
-I have to feed it live newly hatched brine that's been exposed to chlorine twice a day.

I've also read that captive dwarfs usually are able to train them to eat frozen food, but they're pretty rare.
I'm a little confused on that. Am I suppose to have two hatcheries? one for morning and one for night?

I know I'm capable of doing all of this, but I'm just worried about the time.

lorabell

I am running 2 hatcheries atm to see how I do....I am also going to try growing some out...I went nuts yesterday trying to find brewars yeast(brine food)..but fineally found it..the problem with frozen for dwarfs..is that IT is NOT freshly hatched...it has been grown...so therefore the eggsak on the brine is depleted...that is where the dwarfs are getting theyre protien...ONLY on freshly hatched brine...they would probably be ok for up to 48 hours(the brine)..as far as nutrition(for the dwarfs)..Ive seen they do not have mouths or eat until 48 hours old.....if I think I can try...lol...then u certainly can....lol

ATP

OK that makes a difference.

So lets say in the morning I'll have to feed them at 6 AM. (I have school so that's the latest) They will hatch at around 6 AM tomorrow and as soon as it hatches, I would add eggs to the 2nd hatchery and the first one would be gone by night and then as soon as the 2nd one is gone tomorrow, I would add them to the first one? I should be able to do that with one hatchery right?

How long does it take you for the process? (not including exposing it to chlorine because the eggs that are exposed should last a week right?)

Thanks for the help again

lorabell

mine have been hatching in aobut 18-20 hours...i have not been decapsulating them as of yet...thats my next project.....i just really wanted to make sure I can even hatch them...lol...so far its working....I have 2 jars going at once plus I did a small critter keeper to see if I can get them to grow...I also have them on a makeshift heat pad...been keeping the temp right around 80..I think that has helped also