Choosing a new seahorse

[bluetang<3]

Well i just got a call my lfs just got in my 8cm's Orange Hippocampus reidi. Being i have never purchased or really looked to closely at a seahorse what things are important to look for. I know eyes and watch breathing and ensure they are eating. Checking for swollen swim bladder is there anything else? How does acclimation work can they be exposed to air? Are there any special requirements when handling them in the net other be very gentle. I have worked out a deal with the store i go pick some tomorrow and he is willing to hold for a month to ensure i get a healthy pair. Being my tank is a 50 should i buy 2 pairs at once to ensure they are from the same breeder? Thanks for the help everyone pics to come soon.

 

[rayjay]

As long as you are sure the tank is set to handle the bio load of two pair you should be OK to buy all at the same time.
If you know that you will be able to get seahorses from that dealer from the same breeder later on, you could wait for the second pair to be sure you know what you are doing if you don't already have experience keeping seahorses.
I've never seen or looked for a swollen swim bladder.
The seahorse should be eating, have no lesions, have a full body, (no sunken sides) and be reasonably active.
If the orange reidi has been bred by Aquamarine International in Sri Lanka then it would be a decent choice to buy.
For acclimation I prefer to use a Q tank myself, as it is best suited to allow me to see just how it feeds and how it develops over a few days to a week before I place it in the DT.
Dan Underwood of seahorsesource.com has an excellent write up on his site for his customers.
It is meant for seahorses that have been shipped but it is still good reading for someone just picking up from a store.
http://www.seahorsesource.com/acclimation.html

 

[bluetang<3]

Thanks I am confident that the tank should sustain 2 pairs but have never kept them before so don't know how messy they are. Have a large skimmer on the tank and about 50 pounds of established branching rock. I want to go very slow as i have been around the hobby long enough and know patience is key, but just worried about not being to get the same supplier and introducing a pathogen or something to my original pair.