Keeping Dwarf Seahorses?

[Erin8D]

Okay, so i want to get some dwarf seahorse soon, but this will be my first saltwater tank. Can someone post a guide as to cycling a tank? I know all about their care and such, but I want to keep 4 in a five gallon, and then if they breed, give them, or sell them to fish strores and over craigslist. I am not getting live rock or sand because of the hydroids and the stings they give to the dwarfs. I know they are challenging to keep, but I am up to it don't worry

I just need some help as how to set up, what type of filter light heater to get and cyling. I have a ten gall freshwater tank, so I am pretty expperinced with some types of fish

 

[Erin8D]

Oh and were can I buy them online?

 

[ben1987]

sea horses need really really stable conditions, i would advise doing a bite more reading first.

usually to cycle a salt water tank you add live rock, the die off creates the ammonia.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Two ways of doing it, use a canister filter and do a fishless cycle like you would a FW tank (search forum for info on fishless cycling) or instead of a canister filter get some dried live rock/ base rock. Give it a ###### good clean and leave it in RO water for a few weeks to try and leach out any nasties in there like nitrate/phosphate. using the rock would be better IMO as you wont have the filter taking the food out the tank (as you probably know you have to keep the food concentrations of baby brine shrimp fairly dense for dwarf seahorses).

Also make sure you have your Brineshrimp hatchery up and running and you are 100% sure you can keep the live cultures going 24/7 before getting them.

With regards to buying them I assume your in the US as you mention craiglist. I have no idea where you can buy them over there. In the UK at the moment they are extremely difficult 9close to impossible) to get hold of.

Would also recommend using an auto top off on the tank.

 

[Musho3210]

You are plunging in too quick, do lots more reading on sea horse dedicated websites. They aren't easy, but a whole lot of research wont make them hard. Just make sure you research A LOT. I spent a good 9 months researching reef tanks before I went in, and still had a rocky start. Many here have had longer time to research certain things. If you really are serious at keeping them healthy, you are going to want to wait a few months before you actually get them, a few months researching and asking questions, a few months researching and buying necessary equipment, a few months researching while waiting until your tank is ready for life, and then maybe a few more months just in case.

<a href="http/www.seahorse.com/" target="_blank">http/www.seahorse.com/</a>
<a href="http/reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/hcs3/index.php" target="_blank">http/reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/hcs3/index.php</a>

Those can get you started on seahorses. And make sure you thoroughly read ALL of it, dont just skim and think you get the jist of it. And possibly join a seahorse forum and ask questions there as they can be of greater assistance. But still, keep us informed over here .

I really dont want to offend you in any way, but if you dont know how to cycle a tank I dont think you know enough about the care requirements of dwarf seahorses, I could be wrong though.

lastly, though you should learn this from reading, buy a captive raised/bred species!!! It will lessen the impact on nature and will prove to be easier to keep, and captive raised/bred are more likely to take frozen food, which will really make it much easier since feeding live foods a few times a day constantly can be a PITA.

 

[ILuvTropicalFish]

I hope you take the advice given to heart. I tried seahorses for awhile. I had alot of experience with fish and maybe a year or so in marine when I did. Seahorses are very difficult to keep and very expensive to lose. One thing I did pick up in my research is that they need a well established tank. I actually have a 29 gallon running right now that was hopefully intended for me to try again. The bad economy has stopped that plan in its tracks. I highly recommend getting some experience in marine fishkeeping before you give seahorses a try. Let us know what you decide to do.