Adopted dwarf seahorse's

[mchud]

I get a call today from a lfs store that does not do salt. One of their customers dropped them some dwarf seahorses he ordered one night on the net with out thinking.As he said, he should not be shopping drunk on the net at night. They had no where to house them at the store. So I have a 5 gal nano that is always set up with macro in it. I quickly set it up with some sand from the display and a small fist size chunk of live rock and did a water change with water from the main system. I have some brine shrimp going now but they will not be ready until tomorrow sometime. Am I missing anything? I have never kept these guys. Thanks

 

[Meus]

Live rock and dwarfs is not a good idea. Hydroids thrive off of the same foods zots do, and they're found on anything "live" and untreated. Temporary it should be fine, but you should look into doing a more dedicated setup.

 

[rayjay]

For best chances of success, the bbs need to be ongrown a day and then enriched for two 12 hour stages with new water and new enrichment for each stage.
It would have been better to sterilize or decap the cysts before hatching to prevent hydroids, and to have sterile live rock that is cycled afterwards.
Using water from another system also can lead to problems.
At this point, hope for the best and sterilize/decap any future brine cysts before hatching.
To sterilize, soak in water for 1/2 hour, aerate for another hour, add some bleach, about one part in 10 parts water, aerate for another five to ten minutes and rinse REALLY well under the cold water tap.
Add to your salt water to hatch.
Rinse well at each stage after hatch and after enrichment.
Uneaten food needs to be removed before the next feeding as it quickly looses it's enrichment.
Protect the intakes of any filter/powerhead.
I prefer to get water motion from open ended air lines.
Be careful of any tankmates you might add as they can become food for some crabs and shrimp, or other fish.
Species only is best for seahorses of any kind.

 

[mchud]

Thanks for the advice. I do not intend on keeping them, Just helping the store out. I will pull the live rock out. This was something that was a last minute thing to help out. I have some brine going now and should be ready tonight, I will treat them like the post above suggested. Thanks for all of the advice.