Are all CB pathogen free?

[vwluv10338]

I see a lot of people on this board throwing around not to mix captive bread with wild horses as not to spread any internal parasites or infections. I understand the theory but are all captive bread SH pathogen free, or do people mean not to mix them with certified pathogen-free CB from somewhere like Draco Marine? I ask because I am in the process of setting up a 55g SH tank and plan to get some H. Reidi from a LFS. Before I get flamed this is not your typical LFS in that they work against everything that a typical LFS does wrong http://www.seasave.net/ . Anyway.... they have a pair of wild caught reidis that they are breading. The owner has been working breeding seahorses for something like 20 years or so. My question is if these fry will be pathogen free because they are "captive bread" or should I consider them WC because they will get the pathogens from being in the tank with their parents? What do you all think?

Eric

 

[ReefNutPA]

I don't know if they'd be 100% pathogen free or not, but either way extreme care should be taken if you chose to mix them with seahorses from any other supplier. There is some evidence (rather strong) that even mixing CB seahorses from different breeders can be risky.

Tom

 

[pledosophy]

Just because a seahorse carries a bacteria in there digestive system does not make them a bad pet, nor does it make the breeder a bad breeder.

It kind of depends on who to believe here. The experts disagree. Shedd's states that all syngnathid's they have ever tested have been positive for vibrio. Labdoc has found that over half carry the bacteria, from his necropsies.

I tend to believe Labdoc more because I am familiar with his methods, and I know not much of Jeff Mitchell's.

There have been cases where Cb with CB has cause illness even if they are of the same species.

I would believe a claim of parasite free, but would not believe anyone selling bacteria free seahorses. JMO.

 

[vwluv10338]

pledosophy- So you wouldnt believe Draco's claim:
"By doing this we can guarantee that our animals are produced using only environmentally friendly approaches and that they are Specific pathogen Free (SPF). "

I mean I would like to get my tank up and attempt to breed reidis with a culture of rotifiers but I guess the best thing would be to get them all from this breeder. However, that doesnt give me a very diverse blood line for breeding.

 

[Swanwillow]

I'd be CAUTIOUS and mix them... quarentine periods, and all...

 

[vwluv10338]

Whats the point of quarentine if they are healthy. If I have two CB from WC parents that are perfectly healthy isnt my risk in mixing them with a Draco SH immediate?

Eric

 

[ReefNutPA]

Hi Eric,

I'm sure pledo will correct me if I mistate anything, but I'll try to give you an answer in terms I can understand...which is far from scientific terminology.

Every living thing contains some level of bacteria and/or pathogens....including humans. The immune system and antibodies keep these things in check.

The problem with mixing is, Breeder A has seahorses that have an immunity/antibodies that keep bacteria/pathogen A,B,C in check because that's what they've been exposed to at the breeder. Breeder B has seahorses that have an immunity/antibodies that keep bacteria/pathogen X,Y,Z in check because that's what they've been exposed to at that breeder.

The risk involves mixing those breeders seahorses. Seahorses from Breeder A will now be exposed to bacteria/pathogens from Breeder B. Seahorses from Breeder A have never been exposed to those particular bacteria and their immunity may or may not be able to handle that exposure. Same goes for seahorses from Breeder B.

I would say the majority mix CB species from different breeders with no problems what-so-ever. However, there are also quite a few of us that HAVE mixed and have lost seahorses or they have become quite ill.

Since I'm one of the unfortunate that had a complete wipeout...and had to euthanize the seahorses that did not succumb to illness, I know the feeling of devistation. I wouldn't want anyone to have to experience that, so I personally advise not to mix. That is one way to be almost positive the seahorses would be ok.

As I said, many mix and will continue to do so with great luck. For those that mix and have the luck I had, they'll also be advising newcomers it's safer not to mix.

Tom

 

[vwluv10338]

Tom,
Thanks. I guess I will just have to try and get all my SH from the local breeder.

Eric

 

[mano]

I belive that certain stressful situations, like adding in other seahorses or tank mates, poor water quality etc. can also cause vibrio or other pathogens to "come out" so to speak. If you provide a stable environment and high water quality you are less likely to stress your horses I believe also. Just my thoughts though. I've seen cases like this with marine fish in the hatchery environment, where water quality got poor for any number of reasons and the fish would quite quickly become stressed and show signs of vibrio and other infections.

 

[DanU]

Whats the point of quarentine if they are healthy.

That is a great question! Quarantine allows you not only to verify the health of an animal, it also allows you to see it's individual traits and observe it eating habits. The stresses of moving a seahorse whether it be from the LFS to home or shipping can through them off. If placed immediately in the tank with other tankmates, rock, macroalgae etc., you may or may not be able to verify their eating habits.

Even though I have great reputation and will only sell healthy animals, I still recommend a quarantine period.

Dan