Help with identification

[mcgrawjt]

Hello All -

Been a saltwater reef tank owner for 10 years now. Always wanted a peaceful tank with a pair of seahorses. Did a bunch a research setup a new tank an got the environment set and found an already bonded pair in my LFS that a previous owner had to get rid of for moving reasons. I was told that they "appear" to be from the Reidi family. After some research online I am not too sure and hope someone can help I.D. them so I can be sure what type I have. Possibly Kuda or Erectus? Original thought was Reidi due to orange color but I see the others can be orange as well, so I guess it goes to body shape/markings which I am not real familiar with at this moment. Hopefully these picutres are good enough, if not I can take others (closer if needed).

My LFS guys are good with fish and coral identification but they don't usually get seahorses which is why I jumped on this opportunity when they had them, especially since they were adults and bonded. Plus they are a beautiful bright orange. Never have seen this color before (atleast live).

Thanks.
John

 

[mcgrawjt]

After more reseach I believe I can rule out Kuda. It is down to Erectus or Reidi, which I am more inclined to go with Reidi due to description of crown but don't really notice the snout being longer or slender. Markings seem to be Erectus (patterns) and they look a lot like the "sunburst" Erectus as seen on www.searhorse.com, but then they also have many spots like the description of Reidi.

Very confused... if someone can please help!

I believe the male is carrying eggs now, and I would like to know what type of fry I will be dealing with.

Thank you for any help provided!
John

 

[rayjay]

My first thought was H. reidi but the coronet is more prominent than any of my reidi.
For erectus, it is not "spiney" enough compared to my erectus.

 

[TamiW]

They don't look like reidi or erectus to me. Or rather, they look like both. Where they wild caught? Captive bred? They really look like mutts to me. I'm normally not a fan of ascribing hybrids to seahorses, as a lot of times that just means that someone couldn't ID them, but to me these guys really look like H. reidi x erectus. Can you find out more about their origin? That would help immensely.

Edit: Can you get a good side photo of the female? And maybe a closer side photo of the male and females heads?

 

[DanU]

I agree, look like hybrids.

Dan

 

[btreyes]

I had a wild caught one a long time ago that looked just like those guys listed as erectus. Maybe it was a natural hybrid where species boundaries overlap?

 

[rayjay]

I wasn't aware of any reidi grounds anywhere near erectus habitat.

 

[TamiW]

I wasn't aware of any reidi grounds anywhere near erectus habitat.

Yup, they overlap. I doubt these are wild hybrids though. Not impossible, but the likelihood of two wild hybrids seems rather small.

 

[tjdouglas]

Dear mcgrawjt, whatever the species (or hybrid...imho looks like some erectus involved for sure), they are a beautiful pair!

 

[mcgrawjt]

Thanks everyone for your help. I asked the LFS if they had any more info on them and they don't... only that the owner needed to give them up as he was moving. They were not sure of the species either. If they are hybrid I would doubt they would be wild caught either, a pair would be a crazy chance. But they do not take to frozen food either only live. Here are some more pics, they are from my phone so forgive quality. I tried to get good side shots, they are not always cooperative.

Here is the female back shot:

Female side 1:

Female side 2:

Male side 1:

Male side 2:

The male was pregnant and had in my estimates around 80 fry. Trying my best to keep them alive in their own tank. Rotifers, artemia, phyto and cyclopeze on hand. Trying to cultivate mysids as well, I have a separate little tank for them and trying to get them going in the refugium of my 210.

Like I said, I have been into saltwater tanks for over ten years now and always wanted a peaceful seahorse tank. I finally jumped in the pool! But ended up with a little more than I bargained for.

Thanks again everyone for all your input.

John

 

[TamiW]

I'm going to go with my initial assessment that they're an erectus x reidi cross. Probably brother and sister. They have features that are distinctive to both and exclusionary of each species as well. They are lovely though.

I have no idea what to recommend for feeding the fry. H. erectus can eat brine shrimp from birth, H. reidi needs rotifers or (ideally) small copepods and copepod nauplii. Where these fall is probably going to be a complete crapshoot. I'd stick with the bbs and rotifers approach for now. Ideally, you'll want to enrich the bbs and rotifers, both on their own are inadequate.

Yup. Welcome to seahorse keeping!

 

[TamiW]

Also, I'd love to see what their offspring ends up looking like.

 

[JenC2012]

I would really like to knows how this turns out for you. Love your pics, would love to see more.