not really hey, i had a pair in my refugium for 18 months, low flow and lots of pods with no predators and they are awesome fish!
sea snakes?
- Thread starter llandlo
- Start date
not really hey, i had a pair in my refugium for 18 months, low flow and lots of pods with no predators and they are awesome fish!
leslie hempel
Professional Aquarist
thats a good question.. as they will be classed the same as blue ring octopus..
What is the size of these snakes?
Very interesting choice or alternative livestock.
A local SA species, and permits will be an issue. Also doubt if any LFS will import it for you. Unless you pay upfront. But then again, import permit might exclude them, or not specify them on the allowed list. But you still needs somebody on the other side to catch it for you.
Judging from the bucket,I reckon you look at 500L plus systems to be able to maintain a sea snake. Or at least to be able to give it space to move in. I think they need more space than eels. At least eels are mostly hiding in their caves, or stick around there.
Very interesting choice or alternative livestock.
A local SA species, and permits will be an issue. Also doubt if any LFS will import it for you. Unless you pay upfront. But then again, import permit might exclude them, or not specify them on the allowed list. But you still needs somebody on the other side to catch it for you.
This was a big 'un - 70ish cm.
Pelamis platurus is completely pelagic so not a good species at all to keep in any sized tank.
leslie hempel
Professional Aquarist
raher dont name them.. 
Hi, we have kept seasnakes at Bayworld occasionally. They have come in as strandings and are therefore compromised healthwise with malnutrition and dehydration, most not lasting very long, but have managed to keep some over six months. I believe it may be possible to keep them legally, but permits would be required in the same way as keeping any reptile. It would possibly also require a environmental survey that the first person intending to keep them would have to provide to the provincial nature conservation authorities of the province where he intends to keep them (and pay for). The pelagic ones would not necessarily be the best ones to keep and the others would need a specialised tank.
This is some interesting stuff! Are you still planning on doing it.
All of the discussions I have had with Public Aquarium curators and aquarists internationally regarding sea snakes, indicate that these reptiles require a large system. Some species are kept in well managed tanks for anywhere up to a year. I imagine they could be kept much longer in specialized systems, if healthy specimens are obtained.