How does one go about keeping a seahorse in an home aquarium?

Question

I LOVE seahorses. I am crazy about them. I would love to own one as a pet someday in a saltwater aquarium. I understand that salt water aquariums are harder to keep than freshwater. Do seahorses need other creatures to live with? What size tank is best? What is the average lifespan for one of these little guys? Any and all advice is appreciated!

Answer 1

Seahorses are one of my obsessions too. There is a great group of seahorse keepers at http://www.seahorse.org/
Join thier forum, they have an abundance of knowlege about the subject of keeping seahorses.

Saltwater is much more complicated than fresh water, and seahorses are very delicate. Tank size will vary depending upon the species. A pair of Dwarf seahorses (Hippocampus zosterae) can be kept in a ten gallon, but the larger species such as H. Kuda, H.Erectus or H. Kelloggi need a much larger environment (at least 50 gallon) They should really be kept in species only enviornments, with the exception of the "salt water tank clean up crew" as many fish will out manuever them for food. They are reef safe, but avoid stinging corals and anenomes as the cute little buggers will try to hitch onto anything... and a bad sting could end up taking out your pony :(

Seahorses are very social creatures, so they should be kept in pairs or small groups.

Lifespans vary from species to species, 2-5 years is the average life expectancy from what I understand.

They are prolific breeders, and if you join the forum they have a fry exchange so if you wish to share some of your fry with another member to raise or to expand the genepool, that is another benefit of the group.

Captive bred seahorses are what you want to look for as they do not decimate the wild populations, and captive bred seahorses are already trained to eat frozen foods... much more economical than live.

They need a cool tank 68-72 degrees farenheit, as the pathogens that cause illness tend to be more virulent at higher temperatures.

Be warned this is an expensive & VERY addictive hobby... Best of luck to you & your future horsies

Answer 2

Yes, you can keep seahorses, however they are VERY delicate and not for the novice aquarist. Depending on the species of seahorse, they can cost anywhere from $20 - $100 per fish, and the set up will probably cost you in the $400-$600 range if you're going to have a proper set up for them. A minimum of 55 gallons, preferably 70 gallons or more. Also, they will need to be kept in a species-only aquarium (meaning no other species of fish). They do best with their own kind. If you're new to the hobby, you need to start with freshwater. After a few years, once you have that down, you can move to saltwater. (Saltwater is slightly more difficult). You'll want to start with easy saltwater species like clownfish and tangs, and once you've been keeping saltwater for a year or two, you can start researching seahorse care and look into getting a setup for them. Again, they're delicate and not for the beginner. EDIT: Do no listen to the first poster - even dwarf seahorses need a LARGER tank than 5 gallons. And yes, Ian mentioned they eat live food - although I never found that part difficult when I kept seahorses. They eat brine shrimp, and those are VERY easy to culture.

Answer 3

true story!! Seahorses are awesome........way better in person than in pics or on TV for sure!!! I've never kept one, but from what I've read, the hardest part of keeping them is they require live food. If you have never kept aquatic pets before...I would suggest trying out a freshwater set up first.......saltwater tanks are definately more "involved" than freshwater.

Answer 4

i have tried myself... even had a seahorse give birth in my aquarium thousands of them but the became prey the other residents of my aquarium. to tell you the truth it is ill advised to try to take care of a seahorse in an aquarium since its very hard to feed them they might survive a month or 2 tops

Answer 5

well i dont know much.

im a student in marine science.

and we keep saltwater tanks.

im pretty sure seahorses dont need any other creatures to live with.
and its hard to say a lifespan, because anything could kill it really and sometimes you wont know why.
just something in the water.
whethere the salinty was too low.
or idk something.

Answer 6

Please go to your nearest pet store, that sells fish, etc. Ask for an expert on your questions, and make notes. If they don't know, then ask them to refer you to a place that does know.Then, prepare for your aquarium. Take care.

Answer 7

they are very difficult to keep alive.