Seahorses...

[Jerm]

Hey everyone,
I have kept seahorses for a number of years along with my chameleons. I currently keep a trio of Hippocampus erectus in my 65 gallon saltwater tank. They are actually the only reason that I still have a tank set up. Anyway, I've noticed alot of similarities between chams and seahorses and I am curious if anyone else has noticed these. Some of the similarities include their color changing abilities, independent eyes, prehensile tail, unique eating habits, and normally only accepting live food. I also noticed that their is a species of seahorse called Hippocampus cameleopardalis, also known as Giraffe seahorse. This is very close to panthers scientific name. Just thought that this was very interesting and would like other people thoughts on the subject. I also wanted to know if any other chameleon enthusiasts have seahorses too. Thanks for reading.

 

[Eric Adrignola]

I've never kept them, but I want to when I get a tank setup. I love
cryptic animals. That's why I like chameleons. It's the lifestyle, the
behavior, all the adaptations to living in hiding - it's too cool.

Mantids are another one. They move like chameleons, hunt like them
too. Very cool.

Seahorses are neat critters. A little demanding from what I hear, but
worth it.

 

[Jerm]

They are worth it. It's amazing that the male carries the babies. I have to keep a colony of mysid shrimp and some livebearing freshwater fish around for food, but if you are up on maintainance of the saltwater tank there really isn't much more to it. I feed alot of live grass shrimp, but I have to go in and pick out the small ones at the pet shop. I only keep slow moving non- aggressive fish in with them so they don't steal the food, and I had to slow the current down a bit. They are very interesting to watch.

 

[Brad]

Great pics Jerm. I don't know much about seahorses, but have always found them very interesting.

I also noticed that their is a species of seahorse called Hippocampus cameleopardalis, also known as Giraffe seahorse.

I have noticed other animals with with similar names. I think most of the names are Latin based. Pardus (pardalis) means panther or leopard. The giraffe seahorse probably has spots like a leopard or giraffe.

 

[westcoastchameleons]

they are awsome!

 

[Brian Fischer]

Mantids are another one. They move like chameleons, hunt like them
too. Very cool

Funny you mention them, I have a bunch including ghost mantids, flowers, and indian giants. I'm hoping to be able to breed the ghosts very soon as long as my female molts on schedule .

Anyways, Seahorses are sweet! I have been researching/preparing to start a saltwater tank for some for a few months now, but still haven't taken the plung.

Jerm, I do hear that they are a lot of work and a more "advanced" saltwater creature to keep, but what can you tell me as far as that goes(difficulty/time spent on care and maintenance)?

 

[a23cham]

those seahorses are amazing

 

[Jerm]

I have noticed other animals with with similar names. I think most of the names are Latin based. Pardus (pardalis) means panther or leopard. The giraffe seahorse probably has spots like a leopard or giraffe.

Thanks Brad. I'm sure that the spots have something to do with the name.

Jerm, I do hear that they are a lot of work and a more "advanced" saltwater creature to keep, but what can you tell me as far as that goes(difficulty/time spent on care and maintenance)?

They are more delicate than many saltwater fish, but if you have the general tank care and mantainance down then that is more than half of the work. A big challenge with water quality is mantaining a low current, but still keeping up with the filtration. Small live food can be a pain to find, so you normally have to start a colony of mysid shrimp. A refugium works great in a sump system, it will gradually release shrimp and other things into the tank for constant feeding. I have had good luck with them and don't think that they are as hard as people make them out to be. I'm limited on time so if you want to know more, I can post again later. Thanks for the compliments.

 

[pfal26]

I uased to have a salt water tank , but eventually something happened to the tank. I know someone who helps set up tanks in houses with some one i know so i can got her to take my fish. She is a fish specialist. I plan to get another tank. I always wanted an exotic salft water creature such as a sea horse, mini octopus, an eel, or a small shark (not many of). What types of fish can you keep with seahorses....? You said slow moving fish you keep with them? what types like a cow fish or other box fish, maybe some puffers? Also, I used to feed my fish like a shrimp chum and the regular fish liked it. Maybe you could have some faster moving fish you feed several food, mainly something that floats like chum and deteriotes into peices so the fish see it floating and eventually sink and will go after it maybe more than the live food. I fed them the chum 2 times a day.

 

[RESGuy]

Very Cool! I've always been fond of Seahorses aswell But I could never get one and am not brave enough to set-up a salt water tank nor do I have the space or (especially) the money

 

[Jerm]

I always wanted an exotic salft water creature such as a sea horse, mini octopus, an eel, or a small shark (not many of). What types of fish can you keep with seahorses....? You said slow moving fish you keep with them? what types like a cow fish or other box fish, maybe some puffers? Also, I used to feed my fish like a shrimp chum and the regular fish liked it. Maybe you could have some faster moving fish you feed several food, mainly something that floats like chum and deteriotes into peices so the fish see it floating and eventually sink and will go after it maybe more than the live food. I fed them the chum 2 times a day.

Hows it going,
I have actually kept all of the things, in the past, that your are interested in trying (octopus, eels, small sharks). An octopus is very aggressive and must be kept by itself. They also climb out of the tank so you have secured the top really well to prevent it. Eels are pretty easy to keep but they also can get out so you have to have a secure top. Eels also usually eat anything small enough to fit in their mouth. I had a zebra moray that would take shrimp from my hand, but didn't eat fish for some reason. I have hatched a gray banded bamboo shark, which is the smallest that you can keep in your tank. They still get to be 3-4 feet though. You can buy the eggs usually and hatch them in your tank. You can't have to make sure that you don't have any copper in your water or it will kill them. Due to seahorses being food for all of these guys, I wouldn't try keeping them together. On the types of fish that you can keep with the seahorses, they have to be very calm non aggressive fish. I currently have a mandarin dragonet, algea blenny, some very small gobys, and brittle starfish in with them. You definately don't want to keep a puffer in with them, it will eat them eventually. A cow fish or a box fish is ok but they get pretty large eventually and if they die they release a poison into the tank. You really don't want to keep fast moving fish in with them. Due to the current being slowed for the seahorses in the first place, adding more food would just cause more waste, which the slower filtration wouldn't be able to keep up with. You would have to do almost daily water changes depending on tank size to keep the water quality up. I wouldn't recommend it. I go for the least amount of competition and small fish for the least amount of waste released. I have 3 seahorses and a few small fish in a 65 gallon tank so it works out well. Check out this website: www.seahorse.org , they have a lot of good information on keeping seahorses. They also give a good list of what types of fish do well with them.

 

[pfal26]

thanks jerm,

I'll check that site out just incase i end up getting a new tank and end up getting sea horses. If i got an eel, maybe a snowflake eel, would like blue tangs and other fish like tangs go well with them if you put them in when they are bigger. Do you know a site that says what fish go well with eels. THat is interesting that you say the eels get out of the tank... dont they usually sit on the bottom and wrap themselves within the corral? I havent really seen and eel out of its "spot" except once in Hawaii snorkeling i saw a snowflake eel rumaging around for food.

 

[Chameleo]

interesting

Jerm, I would like to compliment you on your excellent pics!! I have always wanted seahorses as well. Also, I have to ask, what's the #.#.# (Name) mean? I dont understand...

Magui

 

[firecat998]

aww there well cool

 

[Jerm]

Sorry for the late reply...

Thanks guys! I posted these a while ago and I don't get on here as much as i used to but thanks for the compliments.