Are seahorses worth it?

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P.A.NativesBPM

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 25, 2012
882
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Pennsylvania
Hello,

So I've been thinking lately about what I could do salt wise in a 20 gallon long.

Option 1.) Reef with all kinds of corals

Option 2.) Seahorses with limits corals.

I know seahorses are difficult, but I've heard that there are some hardier species and I also have a friend that keeps them. I have plenty of time and energy to devote to a proper setup and their care.

My question is, since seahorses necessitate scrapping all corals with any real tentacles, (I'd probably just do some zoas, and mushrooms and make a cool live rock design on one half of the tank) are seahorses worth it? Any real personality with them?


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I personally have always wanted sea horses and i have always convinced myself not to because ide get bored. And i would double on getting captive bred.


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I've seen a seahorse breeding system in Mexico and it was amazing, but you really need to know what you're doing to attempt to keep them, they're very delicate and wild ones are too rare to risk them. If you're extremely confident in your ability then find some captive ones to raise since they're much more likely to eat the provided food.
 
I kept 4 very beautiful sea horses that cost me a good chunk of $$$ but unfortunately after 3 months I got extremely bored with them. They rarely move they spend most of there time trying to look like what they are hooked on to.

Go for it if you want something that
Cons
1. require constant (daily) monitoring of water specs
2. requires observation while feeding (multiple times daily) so you can clean up after them
3. has very little to no movement
4. almost no tank mates other than other seahorse
5. forget going on vacation nobody else will want to put in the effort while your gone.

Pros
1. Brightly colored
2. Unique/uncommon - which does wear off
3. is a challenge to breed (this could be pro or con depending on your view)
 
I have had them for over a year. Honestly I think their best left to public aquaria and the wild. They hardly move I lost interest in them after a few months them donated them to aquarium of the pacific. Reidi's. culturing the live food was difficult and only one took to frozen mysis. My 2 cents


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