Dwarf Seahorses in a 2.5 gallon..

SoccerBum474 · 07-25-2007, 02:45 PM

Hi.. i need as much help and advice as i can get.. i have a 2.5 gallon tank that is ready to house a small fish or a couple inverts... but i really wanna get about 3 dwarf seahorses and have them in there. i have so small corals
(zoos, xenia, macro algae, gorgonian) i have a filter hated for a 5g tank but i replaced the sponges in the filter with LR rubble, there is no bad algae in the tank at all.. i have 30 watts of lights on it and the temp stays around 83.. i could install a computer fan that would drop it down to about 80.. what do you guys/gals think? can i do it? or am i being dumb? what would i need to do to keep these little ponies?

michael_cb_125 · 07-25-2007, 03:04 PM

Im not an expert on Seahorses, but I think that 83 or 80 is too high of a temp for them. They generally do better in mid 70s. I had a pony die from a bacterial infection, caused by my water being too warm (80). Plus the dwarf seahorses require LIVE food. (rotifers, Tiny Black Worms, Etc.)

rebekwl · 07-25-2007, 03:21 PM

I agree with michael_cb_125. I think the ideal temp for a seahorse tank is 72-76 degrees. Higher temps make them more suceptible to diseases. You should PM Icstorc, she's had some recent troubles with seahorses. You could also PM Panmanmatt, he is a seahorse expert. Good luck finding a safe way of keeping these guys!

panmanmatt · 07-25-2007, 03:44 PM

Yup as the others have stated that temp is too high. They should be kept in the 70-74 degree range, anything higher and you will experience problems.

Also, if you have never kept seahorses before, dwarfs are not for you. Hippocampus zosterae are not by any means a good beginner seahorse. It is very difficult to maintain good, stable water quality in a small tank, especially with the bio load of seahorses. Dwarfs require live foods in the form of baby brine shrimp or copepods and in large quantities. They do not hunt for their food like the larger species, but rather stay hitched and wait for it to swim/float by them, thus the need for a high feeding density to make sure they get enough to eat. And this must occur 2-3 times a day, every day with any uneaten food being removed after about an hour or so.

Also, it is not advisabel to use live rock in a dwarf set up as it will most likely contain hydroids which are deadly to dwarfs. The only proven way to remove hydroids is by treating with a product called Panacur. However, Panacur will render your tank uninhabitable to any algae eating clean up crew and most corals for a very long time (read years). I can tell you from first hand experience that gorgonians and xenia will die from Panacur. Nobody I know of is brave enough to try it with zoas yet, myself included.

If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to post here and I will do my best to answer them for you.

panmanmatt · 07-25-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebekwl

You could also PM Panmanmatt, he is a seahorse expert.

Thanks for the compliment, but I am by no means an expert. I am just a hobbiest with a huge passion for these lovely creatures. My knowledge has come from the 5+ years I have been keeping them and the knowledge of the great folks I have met that share my passion.

07-25-2007, 02:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
SoccerBum474 Serpent Star Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: La Quinta, Ca Posts: 220 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Dwarf Seahorses in a 2.5 gallon.. Hi.. i need as much help and advice as i can get.. i have a 2.5 gallon tank that is ready to house a small fish or a couple inverts... but i really wanna get about 3 dwarf seahorses and have them in there. i have so small corals (zoos, xenia, macro algae, gorgonian) i have a filter hated for a 5g tank but i replaced the sponges in the filter with LR rubble, there is no bad algae in the tank at all.. i have 30 watts of lights on it and the temp stays around 83.. i could install a computer fan that would drop it down to about 80.. what do you guys/gals think? can i do it? or am i being dumb? what would i need to do to keep these little ponies?

07-25-2007, 03:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 3,228 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Dwarf Seahorses in a 2.5 gallon.. Im not an expert on Seahorses, but I think that 83 or 80 is too high of a temp for them. They generally do better in mid 70s. I had a pony die from a bacterial infection, caused by my water being too warm (80). Plus the dwarf seahorses require LIVE food. (rotifers, Tiny Black Worms, Etc.) __________________ 240 Gallon MIXED REEF SUPER TANK Well at least thats what I want it to be 240 Gallon Custom Made Starphire Tank Life Reef Custom Sump,Life Reef Skimmer, Little Giant Return, 2 1200gph Koralias, 2 1580 GPH Tunze Turbelles, 1 Vortec, 72" Solaris I series, PM Kalk Reactor, Custom Made Fug, way to many more things to list Jose say hello to your NEW LITTLE FRIEND!!!!!!!!

07-25-2007, 03:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
rebekwl Achilles Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 846 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Dwarf Seahorses in a 2.5 gallon.. I agree with michael_cb_125. I think the ideal temp for a seahorse tank is 72-76 degrees. Higher temps make them more suceptible to diseases. You should PM Icstorc, she's had some recent troubles with seahorses. You could also PM Panmanmatt, he is a seahorse expert. Good luck finding a safe way of keeping these guys! __________________ Rebekah Member of: Snails Are Stupid Society 90 Gallon Display w/ 2-3" LS & 100-120 lbs. LR. 20 Gal sump w/fuge that has 4" sand, LR and rubble, and Chaeto. CUC - Lots of assorted snails, 3 conchs, Serpent Starfish, Hermit Crabs, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Sand Sifting Starfish (I think that's it). Fish - Bi-Color Blenny, Orange Spotted Prawn Goby, Scooter Blenny, Clarkii Clownfish, Yellow Watchman Goby, Fiji Devil Damsel, Tomini Tang, Sailfin Tang, Lawnmower Blenny, and Pink Skunk Clown. Corals/inverts - Pink Branching Hammer Coral, Green Branching Hammer Coral, Torch Coral, Frogspawn, Bubble Coral, Neon Green Fungia, Green Star Polyps, Cup Mushroom, Green Candy Cane, Kenya Tree, Pom Pom Xenia, Toadstool Leather, Finger Leather, Devil's Hand Leather, LOTS of shrooms (red, green, blue), Orange Sponge, Green Monti Plate, Brown Gorgonian, Blundell Buttons, Flower Pot, Zoanthids, Palys, Green BTA

07-25-2007, 03:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
panmanmatt Acropora Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 1,910 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Dwarf Seahorses in a 2.5 gallon.. Yup as the others have stated that temp is too high. They should be kept in the 70-74 degree range, anything higher and you will experience problems. Also, if you have never kept seahorses before, dwarfs are not for you. Hippocampus zosterae are not by any means a good beginner seahorse. It is very difficult to maintain good, stable water quality in a small tank, especially with the bio load of seahorses. Dwarfs require live foods in the form of baby brine shrimp or copepods and in large quantities. They do not hunt for their food like the larger species, but rather stay hitched and wait for it to swim/float by them, thus the need for a high feeding density to make sure they get enough to eat. And this must occur 2-3 times a day, every day with any uneaten food being removed after about an hour or so. Also, it is not advisabel to use live rock in a dwarf set up as it will most likely contain hydroids which are deadly to dwarfs. The only proven way to remove hydroids is by treating with a product called Panacur. However, Panacur will render your tank uninhabitable to any algae eating clean up crew and most corals for a very long time (read years). I can tell you from first hand experience that gorgonians and xenia will die from Panacur. Nobody I know of is brave enough to try it with zoas yet, myself included. If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to post here and I will do my best to answer them for you.

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