Garden eels and sea horses

[4n2xtacy]

Hi guys, have anyone ever kept a garden eel and a sea horse together? I'm making a 20gal hex display refugium that's gonna host them. I cant find much info on them besides deep sand bed. My question is, is there anything special I'll need in the tank to cater for them and can they live together? I plan to have 6 garden eels and 3 sea horses. Thanks.

 

[andrewkw]

You should plan for a much larger tank. There will not be enough floor space for 6 garden eels in a 20 hex never mind the 3 seahorses. While they are mostly stationary they should be at least able to get far enough away they can't reach their neighbors. I kept about 6 in a 36x24 footprint. You also mention this is a display fuge keep in mind the garden eels will significantly increase your bioload based on the fact you have to feed them a lot to ensure they get some food. They will only eat food that passes by them meaning they require more food then a similar sized creature who will actually hunt for their food.

 

[4n2xtacy]

You should plan for a much larger tank. There will not be enough floor space for 6 garden eels in a 20 hex never mind the 3 seahorses. While they are mostly stationary they should be at least able to get far enough away they can't reach their neighbors. I kept about 6 in a 36x24 footprint. You also mention this is a display fuge keep in mind the garden eels will significantly increase your bioload based on the fact you have to feed them a lot to ensure they get some food. They will only eat food that passes by them meaning they require more food then a similar sized creature who will actually hunt for their food.

You right, that was my worry, what if I reduce it to 4 eels and 3 sea horses. I think that might work if they can live together. I have a really good filteration system, good enough for a 180-200 gal, and I only have 110gal total water volume.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I find that garden eels need about a square foot each, so still not enough room for 4.

 

[andrewkw]

Additionally once you add the sand for the eels you will no longer have the height for a seahorse.

 

[4n2xtacy]

I find that garden eels need about a square foot each, so still not enough room for 4.

How bout 3?[emoji26]

 

[4n2xtacy]

Additionally once you add the sand for the eels you will no longer have the height for a seahorse.

What's the required height har the sea horses?

 

[andrewkw]

What's the required height har the sea horses?

I've never kept Seahorses but they do generally require a tall tank. Certainly at least a standard size tank. A 20 hex is 18.75" x 16.25" x 20.625". Once you add 6 inches of sand there will only be 14.625" to the top, and if you go deeper then 6" - 6 I would say is the bare minimum for garden eels they are going to have very little swimming room. For the kind of livestock you are wanting you really need a tank several times larger. Maybe a 90 gallon or even a 150 gallon since it's 30" tall. There are probably some slightly smaller column tanks that are also 30" tall. Keep in mind losing 6-8" of height with the sand.

 

[eatbreakfast]

How bout 3?[emoji26]

Nope. Maaaaybe 2, but even then it's a little undersized for that.

 

[4n2xtacy]

I've never kept Seahorses but they do generally require a tall tank. Certainly at least a standard size tank. A 20 hex is 18.75" x 16.25" x 20.625". Once you add 6 inches of sand there will only be 14.625" to the top, and if you go deeper then 6" - 6 I would say is the bare minimum for garden eels they are going to have very little swimming room. For the kind of livestock you are wanting you really need a tank several times larger. Maybe a 90 gallon or even a 150 gallon since it's 30" tall. There are probably some slightly smaller column tanks that are also 30" tall. Keep in mind losing 6-8" of height with the sand.

I finally found an article online. You are right, I cant have sea horses and garden eels together in a 20gal fuge. The deep sand bed will drastically reduce the space. The eel might be plausible, but not as much as I had hoped for. I'll have to set up a different tank for them. Thank you so much for your help. I'm gonna think of another idea for my fuge.

 

[4n2xtacy]

Nope. Maaaaybe 2, but even then it's a little undersized for that.

I found a couple of articles. You are right. The sea horse is a definite no no, the eel could be doable @ 2 eels the most but even that would be pushing it. I'l have to scrap that idea and come up with something else. Thank you so much for your help.