New Fuscus Sick?

[hmmbrrgrr]

I just got 4 H Fuscus from seahorsesource two days ago and they all looked really healthy.
Feeding them has been really challenging... they wouldn't take frozen mysis for the first day, but yesterday I gave them live brine and then frozen mysis and they all ate the live brine, and two ate the frozen mysis. One of them has been hiding deep in the rocks the for the past two days and has barely moved. I think he ate some live brine though when I squirted it in his direction... can I do anything? Could he be sick? All the other ones have been pretty active for the most part.
pH 8.2, Nitrate 5 ppm, Nitrite and Ammonia 0, Salinity 1.026, Temp 74 F

 

[hmmbrrgrr]

Oh, also my tank has been going about four months without any fish and there are tons of large amphipods which I think they've been feeding on constantly, so they could be getting food.

 

[ann83]

If it goes a few more days, you might want to move them to a barebottom quarantine tank so you can monitor their feeding and so they can get used to your feeding schedule and style in a setting that is more familiar to them.

Fuscus are known for being finicky, slow eaters and for being reclusive in new and changed environments.

That being said, have you called Seahorse Source yet? They know their seahorses best and I'm sure they'd be happy to give you some pointers and help you through this.

 

[ConsultantERP]

I have 2 from seahorsesource also, 1 seems to hide alot, but does eat the frozen mysids, the other does not hide, and also eats frozen mysids. I would cover the sides of the tank for a while. Maybe too much activity around the tank is causing some stress.

 

[hmmbrrgrr]

Thanks for the advice ann and consultant. How long have you had the two fuscus consultant?

 

[ConsultantERP]

I got them the first week in Dec. My wife says the hiding fucus is actually trying to train me to feed him where he hides.

 

[ScooterTDI]

I've been breeding H. fuscus for awhile now. Their personalities are highly variable. Some spend all day out and about, while others like to stay tucked away in a dark spot.

In my experience, you just have to cater to their individual personalities. Sometimes they become more outgoing with time and sometimes they don't. Try using the turkey baster to dangle and drop individual pieces of mysis in front of the reclusive ones. They will learn that the turkey baster is the source food and be more likely to come running to it at dinner time.

Good luck,

Scott

 

[metalmagiccusto]

i got my girlfriend two fuscus for xmas and it tookem a while to warm up to us the are just now starting to play and move about so keep feeding and be patient!