refugiums and seahorses

[steve569]

is this a good idea with a 75gal display tank 30gal sump with refugium???????

[wolfhound]

For what type of seahorse? Do you mean seahorses in the refugium or the 75G tank will be seahorse dedicated?
Quick points: Seahorses need to be fed twice daily. Every day.
Most lfs seahorses are wild-caught and will only eat live food.
Certain species of seahorse require lower temps so be aware of which species you will be getting.
Seahorses are prone to EVERYTHING except ick. This means every parasite and every fungus and every bacteria.
You pretty much need to get only seahorses in teh tank, no tangs clowns damsels etc.
If you get a pair you will most likely get fry in which case you may get into a whole new level of aqua-hobby. Most species of fry are near impossible to raise without dedicateing about half your life and all of your house to cultureing their food and then you watch the little suckers die anyway.
Having said all the above, I have seahorses, and love keeping them. But they are not for the faint of heart.
What kind were you looking at?
Wolfy(known at all the lfs as the seahorse queen!)

Check out Ocean Rider's website. They specialize in Captive raised Sea Horses post a lot of info on thier website. Thier Sea Horses arent cheap by any stretch of the imagination but they are pretty impressive! Just a suggestion.

[wolfhound]

Ocean rider is a good company as far as their product. There is a significant waiting list for their horses.
Marinedepotlive.com has some CB horses in as well(from teh Austrailian seahorsefarms) and the price is a bit better and shipping is less(doesn't have to come from Hawaii).
There are a few places in the US that carry CB horses, and while they are more expensive in the long run they are much better especially for a new seahorsekeeper. They usually will eat frozen mysis shrimp and not carry the pathogens that WC do.
They also stress less. Being raised in a tank it is the natural environment to them and they are not stressed by being enclosed.
Wolfy