Seahorses and Clownfish.

[Knight_Solaire01]

I am currently making a seahorse reef safe tank for the biocube 32. For this I have chosen corals that would be alright with seahorses as they are constantly trying to hitch to something. Luckily I have some very nice gorgonia that are perfect for them. But my main concern is can I have clownfish with seahorses? Clownfish as a pair are very territorial and will rush down most things coming into their area. Is there a type of clownfish that can get along with these docile slow moving seahorses? If not I may not include a pair in my tank.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I've not seen any pony tanks with clowns. I have seen them with pipefish.

Clowns may be, as you said, too territorial and active for them.

 

[Crustaceon]

I would risk it just as much as I would risk putting a clown trigger in a seahorse tank. Clownfish can be MEAN.

 

[Billdogg]

Like the others have said - not only will the clowns quickly declare the entire tank to be theirs, they will easily outcompete the seahorses for food. As mentioned above - pipefish, other slow feeders, maybe a YWG/shrimp pair, things like that.

hth

 

[Katie M]

I have a pair of clowns in with my seahorses right now (due to bringing classroom stuff home and not having a different space for them at the moment. I don't think they like the horses or vice versa, but there's also not been any aggression nor has food been an issue.

What is something to worry about are potential bacteria infections when you introduce new fish in with seahorses, because seahorses are susceptible to them. (Mine were a captive bred pair who had been housed by themselves for quite some time).

In my opinion, it's doable, but if it's not out of necessity, stick with just the ponies

 

[danverra]

I am currently making a seahorse reef safe tank for the biocube 32. For this I have chosen corals that would be alright with seahorses as they are constantly trying to hitch to something. Luckily I have some very nice gorgonia that are perfect for them. But my main concern is can I have clownfish with seahorses? Clownfish as a pair are very territorial and will rush down most things coming into their area. Is there a type of clownfish that can get along with these docile slow moving seahorses? If not I may not include a pair in my tank.

I used to have a pair of clowns with my ponies a year ago. It went fine but seahorses do appreciate more docile tank mates. The clowns won’t bother the seahorses but the only problem I faced was feeding. Clowns are really aggressive and fast eaters. While seahorses are slow and delicate. It can be really challenging to get food to your seahorse without having the clown eat the food. Maybe getirng a feeding station for your seahorses might help with that. If you’d like a more peaceful fish I would recommend a pair of mandarins, pipefish or some peaceful gobies.

 

[Knight_Solaire01]

I used to have a pair of clowns with my ponies a year ago. It went fine but seahorses do appreciate more docile tank mates. The clowns won’t bother the seahorses but the only problem I faced was feeding. Clowns are really aggressive and fast eaters. While seahorses are slow and delicate. It can be really challenging to get food to your seahorse without having the clown eat the food. Maybe getirng a feeding station for your seahorses might help with that. If you’d like a more peaceful fish I would recommend a pair of mandarins, pipefish or some peaceful gobies.

I will look into a hitching post for them and get them used to me and the pipette there when it is feeding time I also understand that they need to be fed a lot as they don't have teeth or a stomach. So perhaps three times a day.

 

[Conrad Noto]

I am currently making a seahorse reef safe tank for the biocube 32. For this I have chosen corals that would be alright with seahorses as they are constantly trying to hitch to something. Luckily I have some very nice gorgonia that are perfect for them. But my main concern is can I have clownfish with seahorses? Clownfish as a pair are very territorial and will rush down most things coming into their area. Is there a type of clownfish that can get along with these docile slow moving seahorses? If not I may not include a pair in my tank.

You can add tons of pods, wait 4 months and add pair of Manderin gobies, they work well with seahorses. They are low waste producing, seahorses need to be fed often and require pristine water, not much you can keep with them. Pajama Cardinal fish work too.

 

[cmacias6819]

I have a midnight clownfish, target manderin, pajama cardinal, blue gudgeon dartfish and red headed goby with my two seahorses. The clownfish has never been an issue. I also have a lot of nassarius snails, that clean up the left over food. I feed my seahorses twice a day, in my 36 gallon tank. They all eat frozen brine and mysis shrimp.

 

[Knight_Solaire01]

I have a pair of clowns in with my seahorses right now (due to bringing classroom stuff home and not having a different space for them at the moment. I don't think they like the horses or vice versa, but there's also not been any aggression nor has food been an issue.

What is something to worry about are potential bacteria infections when you introduce new fish in with seahorses, because seahorses are susceptible to them. (Mine were a captive bred pair who had been housed by themselves for quite some time).

In my opinion, it's doable, but if it's not out of necessity, stick with just the ponies

I may just need to up my experience to determine when I can put them in with ponies. But from what I am reading it would probably be best to just get another smaller tank for anemones and clowns.