Dwarf seahorse ranch, under construction.

[bikerbutter]

 

[bikerbutter]

We are already wishing we would have started with a bigger tank. There is so much more we would like to do, while we are choosing to stay with the 36 gallon while we are in the learning process. BUT... we are planning a custom build, 40x18 and 28 tall. My calculations say it will be 87.25 gallons approx. Plenty time to get creative with this one!!

 

[vlangel]

We are already wishing we would have started with a bigger tank. There is so much more we would like to do, while we are choosing to stay with the 36 gallon while we are in the learning process. BUT... we are planning a custom build, 40x18 and 28 tall. My calculations say it will be 87.25 gallons approx. Plenty time to get creative with this one!!

I am not an expert on dwarf seahorses but it might be difficult to see and feed dwarf seahorses in a build that large. They don't really hunt down their food, they stay quietly hitched and ambush it as it floats by their snout.

 

[bikerbutter]

I am not an expert on dwarf seahorses but it might be difficult to see and feed dwarf seahorses in a build that large. They don't really hunt down their food, they stay quietly hitched and ambush it as it floats by their snout.

Hello, thanks for your feedback. I welcome and appreciate it. Everything I research says 10 gallons is perfect a large herd. I just can't wrap my head around the idea that I'm taking these creatures out of the whole ocean and going so small. I have a few ideas for making the feeding process much easier and less messy. Unfortunately it costs a small fortune to patent anything now. I'm saving for the first. I won't give away my ideas but i will say that bbs follow the light like the yellow brick road. While my experiments have given me great confidence, i do have an "oh s***" tank on stand by, just in case. I won't jeopardize their lives. Regardless of my confidence there will always be a backup ready.
I welcome you to follow along and share in the journey. I'm a little slow with the updates now because of the lack of funding. Progress is slow but things are picking up.

 

[SantaMonica Verified Sponsor]

Unfortunately it costs a small fortune to patent anything now.

I can give some cost saving patent tips here..

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/your-diy-patent-and-trademark-questions-answered.1099229/

 

[vlangel]

Hello, thanks for your feedback. I welcome and appreciate it. Everything I research says 10 gallons is perfect a large herd. I just can't wrap my head around the idea that I'm taking these creatures out of the whole ocean and going so small. I have a few ideas for making the feeding process much easier and less messy. Unfortunately it costs a small fortune to patent anything now. I'm saving for the first. I won't give away my ideas but i will say that bbs follow the light like the yellow brick road. While my experiments have given me great confidence, i do have an "oh s***" tank on stand by, just in case. I won't jeopardize their lives. Regardless of my confidence there will always be a backup ready.
I welcome you to follow along and share in the journey. I'm a little slow with the updates now because of the lack of funding. Progress is slow but things are picking up.

I do plan to follow along. I used to read threads by a very experienced seahorse hobbyist in Canada. His user name is/was rayjay if you want to look him up. He kept both the large and dwarf species. So although I only kept Erectus seahorses, I read a lot about his dwarf seahorses, which is where I learned most of what I know.

I did however read 1 thread on RC about a person who kept a pair of dwarf seahorses in a 20 gallon AIO. They took a lot of time seeding it with pods and getting it producing pods before they got their ponies. The tank had some macro algae and a little rock. The idea that it was to be almost self propagating.

What I would do to keep DSHs is add a large cryptic sump for just pod culturing and have a smaller display for the DSHs. You would need a slower flow so the little ponies were not all swept to the screen on the overflow. The idea would be that the pods would supplement their diet which would be healthier for the ponies than just enriched bb alone. That way you could maybe go on a short vacation without having to have a fish sitter dealing with your herd.

 

[56longroof]

Looks amazing. Ive been thinking about getting some dsh too. I have a 5 gallon aio just sitting around begging for me to put something in it.

 

[*GAREEF*]

Hi bikerbutter! Hey, I used to have erectus seahorses in a 36g bowfront.

The one downside to macroalgae in a dwarf tank is hitch hiking hydroids that can sting your little herd. I love macroalgae in a seahorse tank and there is dips that can be used to kill the hydroids, although I can't remember what it is called. You will need to be on the look out for hydroids with hatching artemia too as that can also introduce them into your tank. Keeping dsh is not for the faint of heart.

Here is a pic of my ponies in the day:

Beautiful!! And a little old school which is my favorite!!
Great job that you have done!

 

[*GAREEF*]

Awesomeness!!!

 

[*GAREEF*]

Lol

Hello, thanks for your feedback. I welcome and appreciate it. Everything I research says 10 gallons is perfect a large herd. I just can't wrap my head around the idea that I'm taking these creatures out of the whole ocean and going so small. I have a few ideas for making the feeding process much easier and less messy. Unfortunately it costs a small fortune to patent anything now. I'm saving for the first. I won't give away my ideas but i will say that bbs follow the light like the yellow brick road. While my experiments have given me great confidence, i do have an "oh s***" tank on stand by, just in case. I won't jeopardize their lives. Regardless of my confidence there will always be a backup ready.
I welcome you to follow along and share in the journey. I'm a little slow with the updates now because of the lack of funding. Progress is slow but things are picking up

I have kept them in a 40 sump/refugium and I bred them for two years in there!
And I never fed them ever!
Not even once!
I had hundreds of them in there….lol

 

[*GAREEF*]

H

I do plan to follow along. I used to read threads by a very experienced seahorse hobbyist in Canada. His user name is/was rayjay if you want to look him up. He kept both the large and dwarf species. So although I only kept Erectus seahorses, I read a lot about his dwarf seahorses, which is where I learned most of what I know.

I did however read 1 thread on RC about a person who kept a pair of dwarf seahorses in a 20 gallon AIO. They took a lot of time seeding it with pods and getting it producing pods before they got their ponies. The tank had some macro algae and a little rock. The idea that it was to be almost self propagating.

What I would do to keep DSHs is add a large cryptic sump for just pod culturing and have a smaller display for the DSHs. You would need a slower flow so the little ponies were not all swept to the screen on the overflow. The idea would be that the pods would supplement their diet which would be healthier for the ponies than just enriched bb alone. That way you could maybe go on a short vacation without having to have a fish sitter dealing with your herd

Yes….yes ….yes…..lol

 

[timmyrules]

I’m following! I love seeing fellow seahorse keeper’s tanks!!! :upside-down-face:


Plus, I’ve been lurking on this thread, yesterday I tried to comment, but for whatever reason, my account locked up and it wouldn’t let me… but I’m here now! :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

 

[bikerbutter]

I’m following! I love seeing fellow seahorse keeper’s tanks!!! :upside-down-face:


Plus, I’ve been lurking on this thread, yesterday I tried to comment, but for whatever reason, my account locked up and it wouldn’t let me… but I’m here now! :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

Welcome! Glad to have you following our journey.

 

[bikerbutter]

H

Yes….yes ….yes…..lol

Howdy, always great to hear from you.

 

[*GAREEF*]

Howdy, always great to hear from you.

Thank you I have been dealing with some serious health issues physical and mental unfortunately but I’m starting to feel better with support from my friends and family but unfortunately not from Veterans Affairs. They have really been dropping the ball the last few years and the last three months it’s been epically worse.

 

[bikerbutter]

I do plan to follow along. I used to read threads by a very experienced seahorse hobbyist in Canada. His user name is/was rayjay if you want to look him up. He kept both the large and dwarf species. So although I only kept Erectus seahorses, I read a lot about his dwarf seahorses, which is where I learned most of what I know.

I did however read 1 thread on RC about a person who kept a pair of dwarf seahorses in a 20 gallon AIO. They took a lot of time seeding it with pods and getting it producing pods before they got their ponies. The tank had some macro algae and a little rock. The idea that it was to be almost self propagating.

What I would do to keep DSHs is add a large cryptic sump for just pod culturing and have a smaller display for the DSHs. You would need a slower flow so the little ponies were not all swept to the screen on the overflow. The idea would be that the pods would supplement their diet which would be healthier for the ponies than just enriched bb alone. That way you could maybe go on a short vacation without having to have a fish sitter dealing with your herd.

Hello and thanks for the info on rayjay. I'll look him up. While i have a different way of seeing things, i still like to learn things from those who have more experience.
At this point in time we are making a refugium. I'll add a pic. It's not much to see yet.

We added a double shot of tigger pods last month and they are propagating. Thinking about amphipods as well. Plenty time to research that. Mysis fry is a thought also. They are simple to culture and very nutritional.
As for vacationing, I'm in a pickle for now. Other than the spectacular staff at our favorite tacobell, we have no friends. To put that in context, we were once lost to hard drugs. We are now 6 years clean!! To be honest i do have a prescription card for natures herbal remedy.) So no one to ask for help. I'm working on an idea to auto feed but unfortunately it'll only work for 3days. It's something but a far cry from the week I'm trying to achieve.

 

[bikerbutter]

I can give some cost saving patent tips here..

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/your-diy-patent-and-trademark-questions-answered.1099229/

Thank you very much. Everything is ridiculous. You have to be rich to get rich nowadays!! I appreciate your help.

 

[bikerbutter]

Looks amazing. Ive been thinking about getting some dsh too. I have a 5 gallon aio just sitting around begging for me to put something in

 

[*GAREEF*]

I just cleaned my algae for the first time in a week….lol
So glad my corals have survived with all that has transpired over the last week.
I neglected my tank and my alk went from 8.5 to 6.9

 

[bikerbutter]

Hello and thank you. Dsh are so beautiful, why not? It's rewarding and we don't even have them yet.