I know that clown fish are compatible with seahorses, so she can have the best of both worlds. Seahorses and clowns in one tank.
While there are always "exceptions to the rule", I would not put clownfish in with seahorses. Yes, they are "compatible" in that they will not beat the tar out of each other. However, I personally feel that they are incompatible (in most cases) for the following reasons...
1) Clownfish, whether true or false, are agressive eaters. They can and will clean a water column of foodstuffs in short time, leaving your ponies to wonder what the heck they did (or didn't do) to deserve the show and not the meal. In all seriousness, the percs will CHOW fast, and leave little, if anything for the seahorses.
Rather than getting agressive feeders, look into smaller fish, with less of an appetite. Even better, for large, mature systems, a mandarin is a great choice. They eat slowly and actually "snick" much like ponies. Gobies are even a better choice because although they to eat or "gulp" down food, they tend to hover around a "home base" or their den and will leave other foods in the water for the ponies. Pipefish (properly quarantined and cleared for the mix) are also another good choice. They are sygnathids and snick foods in a slow, deliberate manner, much like the seahorses.
2) Temperature differences. Depending on the species of seahorse, they may just not be compatible with other "reef like" fish. H. Erectus, the giant seahorse, is from temperate zones, with mean temps in the 60's and 70's, (Farenheit) what you would find in the Mid Atlantic. That would make Nemo come down with Nemo-monia!! Even H. Reidi, when in captivity, should be kept in temps of about 75-78F. This is closer to reef at 80-82F, but I'd still not do it.
3) Clownfish enjoy "flow". This may be my own personal observation, but an observation none the less. Pony tanks = lower flow.
I'd like to conclude this post with a "sidebar" disclaimer in that YES, they COULD live together... but the question is "should they?" If we were to try to replicate the perfect surroundings for our charges.. and in this case a seahorse pair OR a clownfish pair, the systems would be different. That means that one or both pair will have to "settle" for less than perfect. Our goal is to create a system as close to "natural" to not only keep them alive, but to help them "thrive". At the end of the day...that means a reeflike or reef flat system for the clowns, and an inner atoll/lagoonal type system for the seahorses (Depending on species).
FWIW.. even though I'd still argue the feeding theory, other lagoonal species like Banggai Cardinals would be a better choice in a "boitope" kind of set up with seahorses.
Originally Posted by Reef_Angel
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