Sea Horses

[purduemaximus]

I noticed that not too many people keep sea horses. Is there any particular reason for this. They have to be one of the coolest animals I've ever seen. Are they very hard to keep? Does anyone here keep them and what kind of a system would need to be set up to keep them?

[karlas]

they are very hard to keep. they need low water flow, good water quality, very hard to get to eat, and when they eat need to be fed several times per day. also they should not be mixed with other fish since they are very slow feeders

heres a good page with tons of info on seahorses

seahorse care (http://saltaquarium.miningco.com/cs/seahorsecare/)

[oldron]

Karlas is speaking of wild caught horses, this is not true of captive bred seahorses, I have had horses for several years and love them to death.

[SueT]

The captive raised sea horses are quite a bit hardier although I still think they are one of the harder to keep things. They are so specialized that feeding, water quality, environment all have to be the best for them to live. The Ocean Rider{I think thats the name} horses are supposed to be the best. My LFS has ordered them for 1 customer that has a horse only tank but has had trouble getting them in alive or to start eating.

Practical Fishkeeping mag's. April 2003-Featured reef system.

[oldron]

I and many other people have had issue with the OR company [attitude toward the customer]
but that is another story. What we are seeing is LFS & dealers is mixing WC & CB animals. As for OR they do not sell a horse that is not eating frozen mysid shrimp from piscine energetics, and as for the arrive alive stay alive thingy this is extreamly rare in CB horses, there are several reputable suppliers here to buy from. I would be happy to assist anyone that
desires some guideance in the wonderful world of seahorses

[oldron]

Purduemaximus, if yoy have a good understanding of salt water and some experience I say "GO FOR IT" you will love them.

[tendar]

I setup a sea horse tank for the wife a few months ago and got 4 oceanrider mustangs. The horses have been eating PE Mysis shrimps since day 1 and have doing great for 2 months now.
The tank is a 40 gallon corner with a sump and mag 5 return pump trottled back a little mostly to keep noice in sump down since it is right between the couch and love seat for watching tv. I have a euroreef ES-5 skimmer and do a 30% water change once a month when I do reef water change.
We had no problems with ocean rider ourselfs but then have not really had to deal with customer service since ours arrived alive and did well from the start.