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I love my Tiny Fish!
Topic Started: Jul 27 2008, 06:18:10 AM (240 Views)
Post #1 Jul 27 2008, 06:18:10 AM	Suzy
Ok, I really need to start writing about my wee ones, my dwarf seahorses! I got these from Amie, and I am really loving them! I had them a few years ago, before I knew about growing pods, and they thrived for a while, but then eventually just kind of petered out. I really think having a strong supply of copepods is one clue to their survival in captivity. The fansypansy latin name is Hippocampus zosterae, named after the seagrass that thrives in their natural habitat in the Gulf of Mexico. These fish are native to our shores, so they are not covered by CITEs regs. They are available as wildcaught. Most seahorses are only sold as captive bred. So, I started with 5 and they seemed somewhat deconditioned. Amie adopted them from hobbyist who couldn't keep them anymore, and they are much smaller and less colorful than the ones I had years ago. One died within a few days. But, I filled their tank with copepods while I built them a new home. They started to color up a bit, but they still seem very white! One seems a bit yellow, and one papa is getting a red chest. (Like a robin?). I really was kinda rushed to build their tank, and I was kinda thinking they were not going to survive anyway, so I threw this tank together. Free acrylic, a few bulkheads from Home Depot, and Voila! A nearly maintenance free tank! It is maybe 3 gallons. I have a drip line from my reef tank, and the drain eventually goes to the sump of the main display tanks. Not much to look at, I was just going for functional at the moment. It is in my nursery room at the moment. I need to figure out how to get another display tank in my party room!	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
Post #2 Jul 27 2008, 06:28:52 AM	Suzy
These fish seem a bit less active than their full sized counterparts, but they make up for their stillness with their incredible cuteness! This photo shows a male, with fry! It is really easy to tell gender on a seahorse: the male (when not carrying fry) has a pouch. His abdomen will be smooth from about belly button spot down. Females are jagged all the way to their tail. (Ignore the cutie in the lower left. That orangish one is one of my full sized fry babies I found in my sump, not a dwarf) Attached to this post: 100_7841.jpg (64.48 KB)	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
Post #3 Jul 27 2008, 11:21:37 AM	Cameron
Looks awesome, Cant wait for my tank	fry baby Posts: 4 Group: Members Member #14 Joined: July 26, 2008
Post #4 Jul 27 2008, 05:10:08 PM	Andy
I just got all the rock work done put in some macros and got my new 12g up and running ready for seahorses i got some tigerpods to feed them and feel that i should be ready to add some in soon I used rock sand water all from an existing tank that is well esablished i am not sure on what to do for light though i am thinking of 2 options first would be easier and would grow macros alot better from what i understand that is to build a light that i will use a stainless steal bowl to make a light pendant and use a standard light bulb with high wattage and rated at 6700k the other is to use 2 pc lights rated at 18 watt with a 10k and actinic bulb with the first i think i could give the tank what it needs to grow and do what i want with seahorses the other (pc lights) i could put some soft corals in with it where i dont think that I can accomplish this with the 6700k bulb well heres some pic but i just rearranged the rocks so its clouded Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image	juvi Posts: 41 Group: Members Member #15 Joined: July 27, 2008
A.K.A. Sanddune600
Post #5 Jul 27 2008, 05:50:09 PM	Suzy
12 gallons! That will rock! But, I wonder if you would want to try some larger seahorses? Dwarfs rock, IMO and you could have 100 of 'em in there, but I think could try a pair of full sized ones, too. Great start! Strong work!	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
Post #6 Jul 27 2008, 06:47:39 PM	Andy
I think i will start with the dwarfs it will be easier to keep a supply of food for the time being and i dont know enough about them to know what i can or cant put in this tank what lights do you use for a seahorse only tank without much corals i have a desk clip on lamp with a 6700k light and feel that it is yellow looking	juvi Posts: 41 Group: Members Member #15 Joined: July 27, 2008
A.K.A. Sanddune600
Post #7 Jul 28 2008, 04:44:28 AM	Suzy
I have a clip on light for my dwarf tank, but you can use any light you like. Macroalgae is not picky! It will grow under any light. I agree about the yellow. I used those LOA shop lights on my planted tank for a while. Do you have other tanks?	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
Post #8 Jul 28 2008, 07:56:27 AM	Amie
The problem with dwarfs is that they are so sensitive to everything. I had a baby die by getting stuck on the heater so I took take the heater out. Then I almost lost one to the HOB, so it had to be removed as well. They can't handle much flow at all or they will get pulled into it. I don't believe that the conditions they need to survive in are conditions suitable for corals to survive in. What are your thoughts, Suzy?	stormy, stormy nights Posts: 2,362 Group: Admin Member #4 Joined: June 29, 2008
http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/interns.html Tell them Adam sent you.
Post #9 Jul 28 2008, 10:09:10 AM	Andy
i thought that might be the case and have been thinking more and more that corals wont go in, right now i have a 55 gph pump giving me almost 5x turnover dose this sound about right	juvi Posts: 41 Group: Members Member #15 Joined: July 27, 2008
A.K.A. Sanddune600
Post #10 Jul 28 2008, 10:32:17 AM	Suzy
Hmmmm..... Here's how I have mine: One small air bubbler in the corner causes enough motion to keep the water moving but not distress the tiny fish. A drip line with salt water from my main display adds continuous water that drains out two 1.5 inch bulkheads. Smaller bulkheads would have too much suction abd draw the adults and fry into it. These fish are really small and find their way into any pump or powerhead. They really are tiny. How is your pump set up?	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
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