My 25 gallon sea horse tank.

I noticed on the PE mysis bag the protein is 69% protein "dry weight". Aren't most things mostly protein if you dry them? Aren't most mysis brands the same species of shrimp? I wonder if the other brands rate their protein content with water (as packaged) not "dry weight". At any rate it is a fine product in my book and the fish love it.
 
yes, most things are protein dry weight... its kinda confusing, really. brine shrimp is 8% not water when hydrated, I don't know how much mysis is when hydrated: probably around 20% or so.

PE uses a different type of bigger mysis than normal. Otherwise, its about the same... the packaging process is different also, with PE being bigger and intact, vs other brands.
 
Okay, now that the horses are eating fine, I am ready to try my feeding station. But.... I just do not understand how it works! I mean, how will the horses know that the food is in there? My horses seem to always be low in the tank at feeding time, and my male always seems to be in the rocks when it comes time:rolleyes:

So tell me some good pointers to get them into a feeding station. Here are a few things I do for feeding, and a few questions.

I thaw my mysis within like 5 minutues. Turn of the filter. Use my syringe to suck up the mysis then squirt a little bit at a time to the horses. I usually suck up anything that gets away (or atleast try) and squirt it back down to them.

Questions:

Should the feeding station be in the tank 24/7 so they get use to it? Or should it be enetered in the tank at feeding times, so they know whats comming.

Should I try and feed certain times on the days? I usually feed whenever I get a chance, two times a day. But with high school, tennis, youth group, work, and friends..... my feeding times get alll screwed up.

Thanks!
 
mine is left in the tank... its actually attached to the side of the tank.

if they are used to the syringe, do they react to it? mine come a swimming right away when they see mine... then, instead of squirting into the water column, squirt it down into the feeding dish. they'll stare at it, snick at it maybe: if you have to, gently blow it around so it moves a bit...

they'll catch on.
 
Thanks Alien.

I just got some new caulerpa macro today. Looks real good.

I have a couple questions real quick.

A- I know when it comes to feeding horses, it can be tricky with how much to feed and how often. I heard that you shouldn't feed too much at one time because it can pass right through their bodies. But you also shouldn't feed too little because they may not be able to pull enough nutrients out of the mysis.

But I was really wondering about the time lapse in between feedings. What is the minimal and maxium? I feed my horses 2 times a day, but sometimes can't feed the first time untill 3 PM. So I was just wondering how long is too long and too short in between feedings.

B- What exactly is a "pygmy" sea horse? Are they dwarfs? Do they have a scientific name? One of my LFS got two in. They are already on hold, but was wondering if they had a more scientific name than pygmy, or if their are different types. They were only probably an inch in length.

Thanks, and I will post a picture this weekend
 
The feeding to much is usually not a concern with adult seahorses. With fry it is possible. there have been reports of fry pooping out live bbs.

Zoastrea is the scientific name for pygmy's. They are probably from OR, they like to use those cute little names.
 
Jordon,
I use a deep shell that I glued to a piece of coral. The coral is stuck in the sand so the shell sits about 2 inches off the bottom. This keeps the snails from getting in to quick. I have a couple of hitches close to the edge of the shell so they can be comfortable when they eat.
I cut a piece of clear plastic tubing thats used for the uplift on a underground filter, The larger tube not the hard airline (any fish store should have it) so I can stick it into the shell and have about 6 inches above the water.
After I inrich the mysis I rinse it in a net and sling it dry then put in a small cup. At the tank I use my baster to put a little salt water from the tank in to the cup so I can suck up the mysis into the baster. Holding the tube steady with my left hand I use my right hand and gently tap on the tube with the baster as I slowly squirt the mysis into it. The noise makes them look towards the tube, because the mysis sinks slowly the seahorses see it and come running.
I leave it in the dish for about 30 mins. If they haven't finished it and have left the feeding station I suck up the left overs from the dish.
Hope that makes since.
 
Hey.

I made a feeding dish out of a clam shell. Seems to hold, but the female (more active at feeding time) didn't seem to enjoy it. I don't know if she cant see the food in it, but when I squirt it in, she looks around and ignores it. Then I suck it up and swirt it in front of her and she eats. I am still trying at each feed.... so I WILL NOT GIVE UP!

Anyways, today I came home to babies. I saw about 10 or so floating near the top. It's so sad. I have not had the time and money to set up a tank for them let alone the food they need.

I figure within the next month or so I will do a bit more research and whatnot and hopefully be ready to raise them by June or so.
 
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