bloated male

[garrettlauer24]

I hoast a pair of farm raised ora black seahorses (H.erectus). Every month the male has babies. The last few times the male gets extremly boated and floats on the surface until babies are absorbed or released (a 2-5 day precess). This time he has been very bloated and floating on the surface for 3 plus weeks. A friend told me I need to stick pipette into sack and suck out trapped air or gases.

I do not see an opening to stick pipette into. His belly/sack is acting like a bobber. The pair is a little over 2x old. Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated.

 

[CodyH]

Find a plastic bobby pin/hair pin with a *very small* but dull diameter.
This is to hold the pouch hole open while you get the gas out with your fingers. It is a stressful process for both the sh and the owner. I've had to do it and it's not too fun but worth seeing the sh swim away perfectly (though he may watch you with a learful eye for a few days)

Follow these instructions
DO NOT MASSAGE. Use more of a firm but gentle motion going in one direction to get all gas out.

You may consider visiting forum.seahorse.org to find out a treatment method with the medicine known as diamox if this is a recurring issue.

 

[garrettlauer24]

Thank You for the reply. I just had a fellow reef geek come over and help me with the procedure. I took a pointy pipette end and sanded it down so it was blunt. Having another person was essential for moral support and the process like the article y referred me to. It is hard to stick an object into an animal you have enjoyed hoasted for years. Air bubbles came out of the pouch like it was a little sponge filter a few times.