<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6689638#post6689638 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Swanwillow
Its kinda a risk, so know its a risk. Don't mix erectus with anything, because chances are high (from what I've heard) that erectus carry SOMETHING that kills off other species-but noone knows what?
anything done should be done cautiously, with long QT before the new additions...
and I'll see ya on the other boards!
Hello all.
I will finish my paper very soon I promise and give you some more info, for know I hope this will help.
Erectus have a bum rep. In my research which I realize is limited, I have found ingens to be much more likely to carry deadly strain. It also seems erectus are more prone to carry parasites such as worms, but these are generally in WC speciments and can be easily treated with a little extra TLC.
It is possible for any syngnathid to carry a strain of bacteria called vibrio. The syngnathids can carry these strains throughout there entire life and never show any type of symptom, so QTing will not help you here. It is a good idea to QT any fish, but just because there is no sin of illness does not mean the fish is safe to be mixed with another fish.
The problem is that there are many different strains of vibrio that syngnathids can carry. If a seahorse is exposed to a strain that it has no previous immunity to, it is very likely the bacteria will invade it's body and manifest in some type of illness, often presenting itself in things like tail or snout rot. One often symptom presents itself with acute death.
Jeff Mitchell has found that every seahorse he has examined has been a carry of vibrio, while other experts such as the Doc have found that a little over half of the seahorses are carriers for vibrio.
Currently there is no way to test a live seahorse for vibrio, know if a seahorse is a carrier, or identify the strain. These have to be performed in necropsies.
The strains of vibrio act very differently with some being easy to treat, and some being very resilliant to antibiotics ( ask seahorsedreams ). Another problem arises that many keepers under dose the antibiotics creating super strains of the bacteria that are treatment resistent.
So if the bacteria is always present, then why aren't seahorses always sick ? ? ? When a seahorse becomes stressed the bacteria's release a protien which is the cause of the illness. Many factors can be involved in the stress level of a seahorse.
The bacterias also breed faster at higher temperatures which is why so often you see people recommending keeping the tank temps down. Some strains of vibrio even become inactive at certain lower temperatures,so the benifit is great. That is partially why you see Keith recommending people drop there tank temp down to 69F when treating tropical seahorses.
To date the greatest disease that affects the hippocampus in the home aquarium is vibrio related. While there aret reatments, some strains are very resiliant, and most often do not end well.
FWIW I have been researching mixing seahorses species for well over a year now. Have polled many keepers, read some books, went to the online Labdoc school of keeping. In my system I have a WC that I have kept for 5 years. He is alone because I do not want to chance mixing him with another seahorse.
I'm not saying it can't be done. many people on here and on the other site have had great succsess. Micheal is even raising hybrids of reidi and comes.
I think that for those who want to mix, it is important you understand that the risk involved is great.
If you are determined to mix I would recommend that you :
keep your tank at the lowest temperature possible for the species.
Invest in a high powered UV
feed your seahorses immunostimulants such as beta glucan
place your oreder from aquabiotic today
make sure you have a tank you can pull the seahorses out to in case of an emergency.
JMO
Kevin
