2 Seahorse questions

[GrantMeThePower]

1. Is it ok to just have one seahorse or do they need company?

2. What brand specifically of mysis shrimp do you guys use?

 

[Bluespot22]

1)They won't die or anything but they are highly social and it improves their quality of life and it is fun to watch them interact.

2)I use hikari or PE mysis.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Is it fine to have one and then add one?

 

[ann83]

Perfectly fine as long as you buy the same species from the same breeder. Purchasing two different species or purchasing two seahorses from two different breeders can be problematic for disease transmission reasons.

 

[SaylorsReef]

Are you talking about wild caught or captive raised? I prefer to mix ou the gene pool when it comes to captive raised. Disease transmission is a problem with wild caught. Hopefully they have been put through a series of things. If you are buying captive raised horses, from a responsible breader, disease should not be an issue.

 

[ann83]

Bacteria is present everywhere. Captive bred seahorses often have only been exposed to the bacterial strains in their breeding facility, and when exposed to the bacterial strains from other breeding facilities, especially during a stressful transition to a new tank, they can fall ill or even die.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Thanks...i would definetly do the same breeder and same species. Just want to take it slowly.

Do you QT TB seahorses? I'm planning on purchasing from seahorsesource

Thanks!

 

[ann83]

I do. QTing CB seahorses gives you time to make sure that they are eating and train them to a feeding station before moving them to the display tank. They've spent their whole lives in artificial environments and sometimes have never seen live rock or live sand before, so getting them stabilized after their shipment in a barebottom quarantine tank is always a good idea.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

great! thanks!

how long do you QT the horses?

 

[ann83]

Depends on how the horse is doing. If you're getting them from Seahorse Source, I'd just QT for a week or two; or as long as it takes for the seahorse to be eating well and to be trained to a feeding station; whichever takes longer.