Casper's health is declining

Can you try putting them in a larger tank that might maintain more stable temperatures and filtration? Maybe hand feed Casper for a while with mysis on a bamboo skewer?
 
Larger than a 10g? Casper came from a 2g. ;)

I'll have to see tonight how she's eating. I'll report back on that.
 
Okay, I watched closely for about 5 minutes. I'm really not the most patient guy in the world, and she chased mysis all over the tank. I never saw her eat one piece, but she sure seems to be active. Her eyes are clear, and she will drag some pieces with her tail (what's left of it) across the bottom of the tank. Maybe she curls up and inhales food that way, but she didn't do it in front of me.

Btw, she has an obvious tick or twitch. Can't be good.
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So I thought I should look at the Kuda, that wasn't interested in eating tonight either. He hung out in the plant and watched Casper for a bit, came down to join her and hug on her, and left for his perch again.

Do you see what I see? :eek2:
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pregnant2.jpg


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pregnant4.jpg
 
Unfortunately it's been done before. While hybrids aren't encouraged, that particular hybrid has been produced and raised healthy and happy.
 
What if you put some live rock, macro and a decent filter onto the 10? I was thinking it might be good to get things stabilized. Sorry about the possible neurological problems. I have seen this described at times after severe infections or parasite infestations.

If the male has babies, and you want to raise them, you will need rotifer cultures to start. Both kuda and reidi have pelagic fry that need tiny first foods.

BTW, I see no problems with hybrids in domesticated aquarium fish. It's been done in just about every popular freshwater ornamental species. Unless you are a conservation breeder (intending to restock wild populations) what you do genetically to CB populations is not relevant to wild populations.

Species are dynamic anyway, they are not fixed in any time or place. You could breed a "pure" species in aquaria, but unconscious selection for aquarium conditions and diet would eventually result in a species genetically different in fitness for the wild environment, even if it resembled the wild species. This process is called domestication, and it's how we got all our crop species and domestic animals (whether deliberate or accidental inter-species hybridization was involved or not). :) So I don't see any need to self-flagellate over hybrids.
 
I think they are showing a commendable will to live. I'd agree with Lisa, some macro (ambient light is enough to keep Caulerpa prolifera and Chaeto going, though growth is quite slow) and a bit of LR might really help stabilize things and give you less work.

As for hybrids, if they can be raised, then why not? Call 'em kudi's. Or reika, or reidu.

PS: Lisa.. "self flagellate".. :lol:

>Sarah
 
I'm going to assume that there is no point putting meds in the water with fry on the way. Odds are that won't help the little guys at all, correct?

I do have a 14g tank that has been setup and running for months and months. It is my quarantine tank, and has live rock, a couple of Ricordia, etc. The only issue is lots of flow. I could swap out the powerhead, and odds are have to set up a fan over that tank to keep the temperatures lower. It tends to be 78F.

I have to keep the babies in a separate tank, right? I just gave away multiple bottles of phyto, which I would need for rotifers... Plus I really don't want to take on yet one more project. I asked others on our club's board if they wanted to try to raise the babies. I do have one rotifer sample to start a culture, that I've been saving. Hmm.
 
Meds in the water wouldn't hurt the fry, IMO, it may help them fight off whatever the parents have. But this is speculation on my part, I don't have actual data.

I'd do whatever is easier for you as far as the tank for the two adults. Either keep them where they are and add some live rock and macro, along with a decent filter, or put them in the 14. I'd be very careful about temps though. Higher temperatures seem to bring on recurrence of tail rot and other infections in recovering seahorses.

Fry need to be raised in a totally different type of system than adults. Usually involving just an airline, possibly in co-culture with phyto and rots. Other people use sterile systems with an airline and frequent water changes. Often, small tanks or buckets work well for fry, or people use kreisel systems. You can apply clownfish fry practices to some extent.

If you don't have the time, I'd adopt out the fry (or dare I say it, flush them). Even under the best conditions, raising pelagic fry is not easy. You've had your hands full taking care of the parents, fry would make it all that much harder.

Good luck!
 
Congrats grampa!!! Pretty cool. I have resisted for AGES to say it, but I really think they'd benefit from a bit bigger system too. And, since I put my seagrass in, they have just loved it. I had a ton of LR and sand and other stuff, but the grasses they just really enjoyed meandering through it. And the temp issue, I really agree to get it down lower too. Mine is always 69-71 or so, never a bit of problem.

This will be fun to see what pappa 'sprouts'. It'll probably happen mid-day if he's like mine..somewhere between 1 - 3 (eastern)..and, it looks like an ongoing painful labor. Hope you're home to see it!

Good going Marc.
 
The male still looks pregnant to me. They are still in their hospital tank, and they definitely need me to do a water change. I've been very busy with club business, work, etc.
 
I'll be honest. I love seahorses. But they can sure burn you out after a while!
 
Yeah they can wear you down quite quickly. Raising fry is challenging, but a labor of love.

It is not certain whether a parent will pass on any diseases to the fry. I would be leary of medicating fry from day one. It is quite possible you would create antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria if there is any present with the aunt of WC's that you will need to be doing. THis has happenend to a couple breeders in the past.

Good Luck Melev.
 
There isn't much to say. Both are still in their 10g tank, and still eat Hikari mysis daily. The male that looked pregnant doesn't look pregnant anymore, but I never saw any babies. Casper still doesn't eat properly, but seems fine. It is very strange.
 
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