Seahorse/Pipefish tank?

[postie]

I'm thinking of starting a Seahorse/Pipefish tank...but I know NOTHING about doing such a thing, other than hearing it is very specialized. Very soon I will have empty 10, 20, and 29-gallon tanks. I don't know if any of these would be suitable. Just wondering if anyone has this type of tank and what the requirements would be? Please respond with any suggestions you might have! Thanks...

 

[Anonymous]

Pipefish seem to be easier than seahorses. Just need a low flow tank with lots of rock/rubble and pods.

 

[m-fine]

I looked into this a few years back and decided it was not for me. Basically, if I remember correcly they like lots of places to hunt and hide (rocks and plants) and much milder currents then a reef. I think they may also like taller tanks for some reason too. The big gotcha though is feeding. Many prefer live foods which is a royal pain, or you can train them to take frozen mysis or simmilar foods which is also a pain. You also have to make sure they get enough nutrition in their food since things like brine shrimp or salt water ghost shrimp (look like mysis which are fresh water) tend to be low in nutritional value.

good luck!
m-fine

 

[postie]

One concern I have is keeping the water quality good and avoiding algae problems. How can this be done with such soft/low current in the tank?

 

[Tackett]

I will not go near such a tank. I have neither the time nor the patience. If you have both, then give us some pics when you get her up and running.

best of luck bro.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a Doryrhamphus melanopleura or Blue striped Pipefish in a 50 gallon tank. Before that it was in a 10 gallon tank. Both tanks are/were SPS dominated and had high flow. Other Doryrhamphus spp. can also be kept in high flow tanks.

Although after several months it began accepting frozen mysis it didn't at first. Just went after copepods and the like on the rockwork. I even tried feeding it live baby brine with no luck. But given a lot of mature live rock, a big refugium, and no other pod predators it should be fine. I would wait at least 6months before adding one. Stock your tank with amphipod/isopod/copepod kits. Feed the tank a bit of flake as if there were fish in there. Eventually you will get a nice pop'n of pods.

Tankmates, if any, should be peaceful obviously. Gobies, firefish, cardinalfish, etc.

 

[jethro]

If you get into seahorses, be sure to buy captive bread AKA tank raised seahorses. They are expensive but if you buy wild caught, you will end up paying more in the long run because you will always have to supply live food unless you can train them to eat frozen wich is very difficult.

 

[Ben1]

The CR horse I got from that place in hawaii were weird mutated horses. Get ones from a place like MD live, CB.

www.seahorse.org has all the info you need.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a Doryrhamphus melanopleura or Blue striped Pipefish in a 50 gallon tank. Before that it was in a 10 gallon tank. Both tanks are/were SPS dominated and had high flow. Other Doryrhamphus spp. can also be kept in high flow tanks.

Although after several months it began accepting frozen mysis it didn't at first. Just went after copepods and the like on the rockwork. I even tried feeding it live baby brine with no luck. But given a lot of mature live rock, a big refugium, and no other pod predators it should be fine. I would wait at least 6months before adding one. Stock your tank with amphipod/isopod/copepod kits. Feed the tank a bit of flake as if there were fish in there. Eventually you will get a nice pop'n of pods.

Tankmates, if any, should be peaceful obviously. Gobies, firefish, cardinalfish, etc.

I have had the same fish in my 150 for years. Now the tank has massive flow, and it has no problem. I have tried to pair it up several times, but 'she' kills em off. Oh - she eats frozen mysids and has from day one.

 

[Anonymous]

I have had the same fish in my 150 for years. Now the tank has massive flow, and it has no problem. I have tried to pair it up several times, but 'she' kills em off. Oh - she eats frozen mysids and has from day one.

:lol: Typical female, eh?

I've kept both over the years, and have to second what Ben said, seahorse.org has the best info on the net for those species. Also, they really don't mind higher flow as long as there are things in the tank to "hitch" thier tails around.

 

[WRASSER]

and she's taking all your money, women :!:

8)

 

[Anonymous]

I have a Doryrhamphus melanopleura or Blue striped Pipefish in a 50 gallon tank. Before that it was in a 10 gallon tank. Both tanks are/were SPS dominated and had high flow. Other Doryrhamphus spp. can also be kept in high flow tanks.

Although after several months it began accepting frozen mysis it didn't at first. Just went after copepods and the like on the rockwork. I even tried feeding it live baby brine with no luck. But given a lot of mature live rock, a big refugium, and no other pod predators it should be fine. I would wait at least 6months before adding one. Stock your tank with amphipod/isopod/copepod kits. Feed the tank a bit of flake as if there were fish in there. Eventually you will get a nice pop'n of pods.

Tankmates, if any, should be peaceful obviously. Gobies, firefish, cardinalfish, etc.

I have had the same fish in my 150 for years. Now the tank has massive flow, and it has no problem. I have tried to pair it up several times, but 'she' kills em off. Oh - she eats frozen mysids and has from day one.

I've heard this about this species and the several others that look like it...D. excisus, D. japonicus, etc. They are relatively good at accepting prepared foods. Guess mine is an exception but still not too difficult to feed.

I think Corythoichthys spp. pipes come from high flow areas too. Never kept one though.