seahorses + hermits?

[segraves1]

just got a "bright idea" to put a seahorse in the refuge of the new tank (still building so no....I don't have one yet)....

since the 60gal refuge is going to be one masive macro tank with some live rock and sand, I figured that would be a wonderful place for a seahorse (I would love to put them in the main tank but I think the damsels, clowns, etc...everyone....would drive them nuts if not kill them)....

the question though is, I'm going to have hermits and snails in the refuge....will these guys hurt the seahorses?

[JustDavidP]

Not soo bright.... well.. actually...that's kind of harsh..let me 'splain.

Your refugium is probably running in and around 80-82F correct? It's connected to your reef..correct? Too warm for MOST seahorses. Dwarves can have things a little hotter, but would flow right through your system because they are too small.

You have this refugium to act as a nutrient sink and to help repopulate the microcrustaceans in your system right? The seahorses will wipe out every pod and mysid in there in a matter of weeks, maybe months. They will also poop and mess up the fuge to the point where you may get algae blooms...IF the seahorses live.

Hermit crabs and snails will not hurt seahorses..intentionally. Blue legged hermits are great cleaners and MAY accidentally nip your ponies. The scarlets are better. DON'T mix zebras, lefties or any other LARGE clawed hermits with seahorses. All snails that you'd put in a reef or temperate system are okay with seahorses.

Just set up another system... they are not reef fish and can't be kept in reef systems or any system connected to a reef that is heated above 75-78F at the peak of the photoperiod.

D

[segraves1]

LOL....oh well....it was an idea......lol...thanks :)

[JustDavidP]

It is an idea :) and one that I hear often. I'm not going to say it CAN'T be done. But you'd certainly reduce the "quality of life" and possibly the life span of the fish.

Now.. with that said, if you had the RIGHT system set up, you could do this. If you, for instance, had a "temperate" tank; housing species of the North/Central Atlantic, and the temperatures were kept in the 60's and 70's and THEN you had an attached fuge...you could keep H. Erectus in there. You'd still have the problem of "refugia" in that the refugium is no longer a refugium for pods, etc. but a refugium for the seahorses, but it could be done.

Here's a good podcast to listen to... If I may say so myself ;)

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=404

Dave