Dwarf Seahorse tank planning

NotFishyFishGuy · Oct 24, 2019

Hey guys it’s me NotFishyFishGuy and i am trying to plan for a dwarf seahorse tank. Done an adequate amount of research but don’t want to spend too much time until i am absolutely sure that i want them. Anyone with experience let me know how it went. I’m thinking something like a marine land portrait 5 gallon for a pair or maybe something bigger like a lifeguard aquatics crystal with side filter. Not completely sure on anything else yet...

MERKEY · Oct 24, 2019

My wife is having me do the same but in a 32 cube.

I am following along for all info hahaha!

Garbage_Island · Oct 24, 2019

MERKEY said:
My wife is having me do the same but in a 32 cube.

I am following along for all info hahaha!

From my understanding a 32g. cube will be way too big for dwarf ponies. Something about water volume vs. food density during feeding. I think because they are so small you really need to fill the water column with a large volume of food at once for them to properly feed. (If memory serves correctly, I only have experience with regular SH's).

NotFishyFishGuy · Oct 24, 2019

Garbage_Island said:
From my understanding a 32g. cube will be way too big for dwarf ponies. Something about water volume vs. food density during feeding. I think because they are so small you really need to fill the water column with a large volume of food at once for them to properly feed. (If memory serves correctly, I only have experience with regular SH's).

How big of a tank for a normal pair of SH’s? How much do they cost? If I still go for DSHs a 10-15 gallon is fine right

MERKEY · Oct 24, 2019

Garbage_Island said:
From my understanding a 32g. cube will be way too big for dwarf ponies. Something about water volume vs. food density during feeding. I think because they are so small you really need to fill the water column with a large volume of food at once for them to properly feed. (If memory serves correctly, I only have experience with regular SH's).

Exactly why I'm following for her....

She doesnt just believe me hahahahha

MERKEY · Oct 24, 2019

NotFishyFishGuy said:
How big of a tank for a normal pair of SH’s? How much do they cost? If I still go for DSHs a 10-15 gallon is fine right

We will have to go for a larger pair

NotFishyFishGuy · Oct 24, 2019

MERKEY said:
Exactly why I'm following for her....

She doesnt just believe me hahahahha

Lol

Garbage_Island · Oct 24, 2019

NotFishyFishGuy said:
How big of a tank for a normal pair of SH’s? How much do they cost? If I still go for DSHs a 10-15 gallon is fine right

I believe the recommended tank size is about 5gallons or less, anything larger and they get lost in it. This is what I remember being the standard advice for DSH.

For a regular pair of SH's I believe the standard is 25-30g. per pair. Do yourself a favor and always go captive bred. Prepare to keep your tank on the colder side as this minimizes your risk of deadly bacterial infections. Also plan to feed often as seahorses don't have a typical digestive tract (they lack a stomach) so food needs to be fed often to keep them nourished.

sde1500 · Oct 24, 2019

MERKEY said:
My wife is having me do the same but in a 32 cube.

I am following along for all info hahaha!

Too big

Garbage_Island said:
From my understanding a 32g. cube will be way too big for dwarf ponies. Something about water volume vs. food density during feeding. I think because they are so small you really need to fill the water column with a large volume of food at once for them to properly feed. (If memory serves correctly, I only have experience with regular SH's).

Yes, it is my understanding from conversations with keepers dwarfs tend to stay hitched and eat passing by food. So, in order to get the food to them it requires high concentrations. For a 32g tank that would be massive amounts of BBS every day.

MERKEY · Oct 24, 2019

sde1500 said:
Too big

Yes, it is my understanding from conversations with keepers dwarfs tend to stay hitched and eat passing by food. So, in order to get the food to them it requires high concentrations. For a 32g tank that would be massive amounts of BBS every day.

Yes the 32 will be for normal seahorse, sorry that got confused....

Still following for all info on this thread for dwarf seahorses thank u!

NotFishyFishGuy · Oct 24, 2019

Alright so either going with a 5. 10. Or 15 gallon tank. The reason I’m going big is maybe I could keep lore than one pair and if not, maybe raise some brine shrimp or copepods on the other side

sde1500 · Oct 24, 2019

NotFishyFishGuy said:
Alright so either going with a 5. 10. Or 15 gallon tank. The reason I’m going big is maybe I could keep lore than one pair and if not, maybe raise some brine shrimp or copepods on the other side

You can easily keep a dozen in a 5g. Don't take this the wrong way, but have you seen dwarfs in person before? They are barely the size of your thumb nail.

NotFishyFishGuy · Oct 24, 2019

sde1500 said:
You can easily keep a dozen in a 5g. Don't take this the wrong way, but have you seen dwarfs in person before? They are barely the size of your thumb nail.

No never seen them in person lol. Wow. I figured they might breed too. So probably something like 5-10 then right?

NotFishyFishGuy · Oct 24, 2019

NotFishyFishGuy said:
No never seen them in person lol. Wow. I figured they might breed too. So probably something like 5-10 then right?

By that I mean 5-10 gallons.

NotFishyFishGuy · Oct 24, 2019

If anyone has any pics of DSHs please send a pic with a way I can tell how small they are

Garbage_Island · Oct 24, 2019

From my understanding you can keep multiple sets of 10's in a 5gallon aquarium (like more than 10-15. People who keep DSH's usually let them breed freely as the babies eat the same food as the adults.
It's important to start the tank with everything sterile (sterile sand, rock, aquarium decor). As using live rock will bring hydroids as hitchhikers (apparently the frequent feeding of baby brine shrimp[BBS]/decapsulated brine encourages hydroid growth.
This is about all the information I can remember, but I think anything larger than a 5g. is not advised

NotFishyFishGuy · Oct 24, 2019

Garbage_Island said:
From my understanding you can keep multiple sets of 10's in a 5gallon aquarium (like more than 10-15. People who keep DSH's usually let them breed freely as the babies eat the same food as the adults.
It's important to start the tank with everything sterile (sterile sand, rock, aquarium decor). As using live rock will bring hydroids as hitchhikers (apparently the frequent feeding of baby brine shrimp[BBS]/decapsulated brine encourages hydroid growth.
This is about all the information I can remember, but I think anything larger than a 5g. is not advised

Ok i think i may do something like that. A spec or small evo would work right? Filtration shouldnT be too much as long as i cover up the intake/overflow thing. How big are they exactly? How is three pairs in there to start and let them breed? If frequent feeding also encourages hydroid growth what am i supposed to do lol?

Garbage_Island · Oct 24, 2019

From my understanding if you are starting with sterile decorations then hydroids won't have been introduced. Filtration should be very minimal as they can't handle a lot of flow. I think I remember people even using those old school sponge filters.

I would check out the seahorse section and try to see if someone has hands on experience. I'm not sure about if 3 pairs is enough to start or not.

NotFishyFishGuy · Oct 24, 2019

Garbage_Island said:
From my understanding if you are starting with sterile decorations then hydroids won't have been introduced. Filtration should be very minimal as they can't handle a lot of flow. I think I remember people even using those old school sponge filters.

I would check out the seahorse section and try to see if someone has hands on experience. I'm not sure about if 3 pairs is enough to start or not.

Al right thanks.