I bought some dwarf seahorses about 2 weeks ago. One of my males had babies on the first day I had him, and has been very healthy since then. The other day I had a bad hatch of baby brine shrimp and did not have much food for them that day. Since then, he has barely eaten or moved. His stomach is very thin now and he has no response to food. I am very worried and don't want to see him starve. The ammonia is at 0 and the nitrite and nitrate are at 5.0 and 0.25, and are going down. The salt level is normal. Please help!!!:worried:
Dwarf seahorse not eating
- Thread starter wbarsuhn
- Start date
cjm3
New member
Can you give a quick rundown of your set-up (size, cycle time, filtration system, macro's and clean up animals, tankmates, etc)
And what are the readings for nitrites and nitrates?
How is everyone else in the tank eating?
DSH will continuously eat in the wild. A day without food can cause sever problems.
Is he flushing his pouch? Maybe he's just wanting to mate again.
Male Seahorses that have just had babies will look to mate very quickly after delivery.
Chuck
And what are the readings for nitrites and nitrates?
How is everyone else in the tank eating?
DSH will continuously eat in the wild. A day without food can cause sever problems.
Is he flushing his pouch? Maybe he's just wanting to mate again.
Male Seahorses that have just had babies will look to mate very quickly after delivery.
Chuck
cjm3
New member
In a mature tank I've skipped one of the daily feedings without issue.
With them being in wbarsuhn's tank for only 2 weeks and 'trite & 'trate levels at the levels they're at I'm guessing it's a new tank still completing it's cycle.
I would recommend doing at least a 25% water change and keep an eye on all the DSH.
edit: If you don't notice this male eating soon, you might want to consider placing him in a hospital/holding tank with newly mixed water.
With them being in wbarsuhn's tank for only 2 weeks and 'trite & 'trate levels at the levels they're at I'm guessing it's a new tank still completing it's cycle.
I would recommend doing at least a 25% water change and keep an eye on all the DSH.
edit: If you don't notice this male eating soon, you might want to consider placing him in a hospital/holding tank with newly mixed water.
Last edited:
Sorry to hear that your male dwarf is not eating. I know how stressful that can ber
You do want your nitrites to be at zero just like your ammonia. (Higher nitrates is OK). I believe cjm3 is right, that this tank is still going through the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate cycle. Maybe try adding one of the chlorine removers that also states that it temporarily lowers nitrites until you tank is fully cycled (can take up to six weeks). Do small water regularly changes as well until you find that both your Ammonia and Nitrites are running at zero.
Best wishes to you
You do want your nitrites to be at zero just like your ammonia. (Higher nitrates is OK). I believe cjm3 is right, that this tank is still going through the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate cycle. Maybe try adding one of the chlorine removers that also states that it temporarily lowers nitrites until you tank is fully cycled (can take up to six weeks). Do small water regularly changes as well until you find that both your Ammonia and Nitrites are running at zero.
Best wishes to you
