Help my seahorse keeps floating...

[importprince05]

My Brazilain seahorse which I have had for over 2 years now has a bloated abdomin and keeps floating at the surface. I do not think it is pregnant, and even if it was I dont think it should float like that. My other seahorse looks completly fine, what do I need to do?!

 

[CeaHorseMaShell]

I don't have any on hand experience with this, but I saw one doing the exact same thing once in a petstore. I asked the owner and he said that the seahorse was filling with air and had to be burped every couple of hours. I don't know how accurate this is as I have not researched it. Hopefully it will give you some direction in your search. Wish I could be of more help. Good Luck.

Michele

 

[BruceW]

Go to this page for a step by step guide to pouch evacuation.

http://www.syngnathid.org/articles/pouchEvacuation.html

 

[skewch]

Also look up internal gas bubble disease, this causes them to float and have swimming issues. I usually refer to www.seahorse.org for information. Good luck with your horse, hope he does ok.

Susan

 

[hydroid]

Also, get a hold of some diamox asap.

 

[importprince05]

ok i got the diamox, with a lot of frusteration, i believe 1/4 of a 250 mg tab for 10 gallons, 3 times with 100% water changes after 24 hours after each dose. any other dosing recomendations? thanks guys

 

[ReefNutPA]

Are you certain what the problem is with this seahorse? To me it sounds like pouch emphysema. If there is air in the pouch it must be expelled.

If the floating/bloating re-occurs after the air is expelled, a pouch flush using 1/4 of a 250mg tablet of diamox dissolved in a cup of tank water is the recommended treatment dosage. You'd need a special catheter and a syringe for this. Use this solution to fill the seahorses pouch. I don't know the exact amount to suggest as I've never had to do a pouch flush. I think I recall someone stating they used about 1ml of solution. Just don't overinflate or that would cause more problems. (You don't use the entire cup of solution...but that's the easiest way to mix the correct dosage).

If there is no air in the pouch and the seahorse appears bloated and floats, you'd need to use the diamox as a general medication with a dose of one 250mg tablet per 10 gal. Not 1/4 of a tablet. Treat for 5 days.

Tom

 

[importprince05]

Well the horse is not a male, so there is no pouch to flush. With a full tab for 5 days, are there any water changes needed?

 

[ReefNutPA]

My apologies. Your initial post stated it's abdomin was bloated and you didn't think it was pregnant. Since the males of the species are the one's that carry the fry, I just assumed it was a male.

Tom

 

[ReefNutPA]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7921205#post7921205 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by importprince05
are there any water changes needed?

As with any hospital tank, monitor water parameters and make water changes as needed. Personally, I've always changed 50% of the water each day on hospital tanks for fish.

Tom