Spartanman22
New member
I just noticed a hole that is on the underside of my seahorses snout. She is still active and eats but I can't imagine something like this not being detrimental. What should I do for her?
Health problem with my seahorse
- Thread starter Spartanman22
- Start date
First thing to do is put the seahorse in a hospital tank and lower the temp to 68°F but not faster than 4°F per day.
Can you get a clear picture focused on the damaged area?
How long has the tank been set up? What tankmates including corals, if any, are there in the tank?
What is the tank temperature? Other water parameters?
What kind of seahorse and how long has the seahorse been in the tank?
Do you have Furan 2 on hand, biobandage?
Can you get a clear picture focused on the damaged area?
How long has the tank been set up? What tankmates including corals, if any, are there in the tank?
What is the tank temperature? Other water parameters?
What kind of seahorse and how long has the seahorse been in the tank?
Do you have Furan 2 on hand, biobandage?
Spartanman22
New member
The tank has been setup for around a year. It is a captive breed erectus seahorse and I have had her for about 4.5 months. Tank mates include a lawnmower blenny-never show any aggression- a yellow gorgonian and two small stalks of xenia. I can't get a picture because my camera is with my mother who is on vacation. I the temperature has risen to aroun 76-77 while we were on vacation so that may have been an issue. I can get params up soon. But I do not have either of those on hand.
A lawnmower blenny should not be in with seahorses. Just because you haven't seen any aggression doesn't mean it isn't or can't happen. Just being there is enough to stress some seahorses enough that they don't remain healthy.
However, assuming the problem isn't due to something like a bite from the blenny, it is probably then going to be a bacterial infestation like vibriosis.
It's not too often that the problem starts at the snout that I've seen. It is possible to have something due to parasites as well in that it isn't in a species only tank.
I just checked in the "Working Notes - A guide to seahorse diseases" and for something like vibriosis treatment is a combination of the lowered temperature, slowly to at least 79° plux medications like kanamycin,gentamycin, neomycin and Bactrim as well as treatment with a sulpha drug.
It must be done in a hospital tank and water quality is maintained by very frequent water changes with WELL aerated saltwater.
Nutrition is important so try to get some live food and gut load especially with Beta Glucan and vitamins.
The best I've found for this is Dan's Feed from Seahorse Source.
ENRICHMENTS from SEAHORSE SOURCE
However, if it is a parasitic problem you have to basically identify what the parasite is to know how to treat it.
Most treatments I've come across for a lot of the common parasites use praziquantel, while some use formalin and others use a dewormer like fenbendazole. Also, with the wound, secondary problems of infection may have to be treated with antibiotics.
However, assuming the problem isn't due to something like a bite from the blenny, it is probably then going to be a bacterial infestation like vibriosis.
It's not too often that the problem starts at the snout that I've seen. It is possible to have something due to parasites as well in that it isn't in a species only tank.
I just checked in the "Working Notes - A guide to seahorse diseases" and for something like vibriosis treatment is a combination of the lowered temperature, slowly to at least 79° plux medications like kanamycin,gentamycin, neomycin and Bactrim as well as treatment with a sulpha drug.
It must be done in a hospital tank and water quality is maintained by very frequent water changes with WELL aerated saltwater.
Nutrition is important so try to get some live food and gut load especially with Beta Glucan and vitamins.
The best I've found for this is Dan's Feed from Seahorse Source.
ENRICHMENTS from SEAHORSE SOURCE
However, if it is a parasitic problem you have to basically identify what the parasite is to know how to treat it.
Most treatments I've come across for a lot of the common parasites use praziquantel, while some use formalin and others use a dewormer like fenbendazole. Also, with the wound, secondary problems of infection may have to be treated with antibiotics.
Spartanman22
New member
Rayjay,
I did some reading up on snout rout and Vibrio treatment. I have lowered the temperature of the tank to 68 degrees. One site I found on seahorse diseases suggested a treatment of furan 2, so I was thinking of starting with this. It also suggested treating sick horses with neomycin and iodine or formalin. From my understanding neomycin is basically neosporin. Am I right on that? And if so how would I go about treating the horse with this?
I did some reading up on snout rout and Vibrio treatment. I have lowered the temperature of the tank to 68 degrees. One site I found on seahorse diseases suggested a treatment of furan 2, so I was thinking of starting with this. It also suggested treating sick horses with neomycin and iodine or formalin. From my understanding neomycin is basically neosporin. Am I right on that? And if so how would I go about treating the horse with this?
Spartanman22
New member
The horse also has a white blister on her chest and is scratching against the rock and I had read from seahorse.org that a freshwater dip is very effective agianst external parasites. My only question is it said to match the pH of your tank to that of the freshwater. If the freshwater needs to be lowered or increased what would be safe to use in do so, and how long should I expose her to the dip?
You can use reef buffer to increase the ph if you need to but you need to give it a lot of time to stabalize. I know you said you moved her to a QT tank but did you put live rock in there? If so, remove the rock and clean the tank and put her in fresh clean saltwater. You don't want to bring anything from the DT into the QT tank. I'm not sure at this point that I would choose a freshwater dip unless directed on that on that other forum. FW Dips can be stressful (on both horse and owner) but effective.
Is the horse eating? If not how long has it been since it ate... you may need to start tube feeding......I can help you with that if you get to that point. If you are willing to take a trip to my house (it's a little bit of a drive) I can help you with it.....Just puttng that out there in case you get to that point.
If you chosse to do it, here is what to watch for. If the Seahorse thrashes around, that is a positive sign that parasites are present and being eradicated. If the horse just lays there, it's ok and leave the horse in there for 12-15 minutes. Remove the horse only if you see it is not breathing.
Is the horse eating? If not how long has it been since it ate... you may need to start tube feeding......I can help you with that if you get to that point. If you are willing to take a trip to my house (it's a little bit of a drive) I can help you with it.....Just puttng that out there in case you get to that point.
If you chosse to do it, here is what to watch for. If the Seahorse thrashes around, that is a positive sign that parasites are present and being eradicated. If the horse just lays there, it's ok and leave the horse in there for 12-15 minutes. Remove the horse only if you see it is not breathing.
