Too Small?

Baby Ray · Jan 26, 2016

Hey everyone,
I have always loved seahorses and I really want to keep some as pets. One of my LFS has just started getting some in stock that get about 5 to 6 inches and they eat frozen foods. I asked about them and they said that I could keep a pair in a 5 gallon tank (that seems a little small to me but I don't know much about seahorses) I found this tank bellow and I was wondering if it is big enough.
I am not sure what type of seashores they are but they are yellow and they don't have any extreme markings on them that I could see.

http://www.marinedepot.com/JBJ_Nano...llons-JBJ_Lighting-JB00982-FIAQNCNTUT-vi.html

Baby Ray · Jan 26, 2016

I am talking about the 8 gallon version of it

vlangel · Jan 26, 2016

I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news but that is just bad info the lfs gave you. Any of the greater seahorses, (which are the ones that get to 5-8") need a minimum of 30 gallons for a pair. Seahorses have some very special needs to thrive and if you are really serious about keeping them I will be glad to help, just let me know.

YoCamron · Jan 26, 2016

5 gallons is fine if they don't breed, your tank can be easily overtaken. tell them to feed the seahorses right infront of you so you are sure they eat frozen

Lionfish Lair · Jan 26, 2016

Please don't do it, Baby Ray. That's crazy small. You will totally regret it. I've never even heard of someone suggesting 5 gallons. 8 is still to small, unless you were going with dwarfs, and that's a different ballgame altogether.

Baby Ray · Jan 26, 2016

He feed them while I was there and they ate A LOT.
I asked if I could just keep one and he said that they can get lonely. (wasn't sure if he as joking or not)
Can I keep just one?

Lionfish Lair · Jan 26, 2016

I've had tanks with just one. They are awesome with pals around and they are awesome without them. I wouldn't put a single in that small of a tank either.

Lionfish Lair · Jan 26, 2016

Do you know what species they were? Erectus maybe?

Baby Ray · Jan 26, 2016

Thanks, I understand :(
What is the smallest I could go if I were to only keep one?

I looked in to getting dwarf seahorses but I don't have enough time to hatch brine shrimp eggs every day.
Is there some very tiny frozen shrimp that dwarf seahorses will eat or some sort of powder?

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 26, 2016

Hi. I would take vlangel up on their offer. It is not an easy animal for a lot of reasons. The tank is not great for a lot of reasons.
You could pm or start a thread called help me learn about seahorses? And yea they do get lonely.
Im a pretty full contact hobbyist and my tanks cant do a sea horse.

Baby Ray · Jan 26, 2016

I am not sure about the species.
I asked the people and they were not sure. They obviously have just started keeping them so I knew that I couldn't trust any information that they gave me. That is why I came here :)
I will try to find out as soon as possible.

Lionfish Lair · Jan 26, 2016

If you grab a picture, we can tell you what species. It's not of great importance at this point. Prep would still be the same, with a few exceptions.

Lionfish Lair · Jan 26, 2016

Have you had a tank before, Baby ray?

Baby Ray · Jan 26, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
Have you had a tank before, Baby ray?

I have a 29 gallon reef tank that has been up and running for about 7 or 8 months now

Lionfish Lair · Jan 26, 2016

Not that you couldn't do it, as seahorses were my first fish. I was just wondering from what point you were starting from.

YoCamron · Jan 26, 2016

just get the dwarf ones... i have so many, ill send you a pair if you pay for shipping

Baby Ray · Jan 26, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
Not that you couldn't do it, as seahorses were my first fish. I was just wondering from what point you were starting from.

I understand :)
I have seen people that kept seahorses in there reef tanks but by then I had already bought my rose BTA and I know that they can hurt seahorses.

Baby Ray · Jan 26, 2016

YoCamron said:
just get the dwarf ones... i have so many, ill send you a pair if you pay for shipping

Is there some sort of non-living food that they eat or do you HAVE to feed them live foods?

Lionfish Lair · Jan 26, 2016

Ya, I'm pretty sure we haven't gotten past the live food yet. I've never kept dwarfs, so others who have kept them would better able to answer those questions.