seahorse ID please
- Thread starter 4218kris
- Start date
Here in Canada we have been getting "black" seahorses sourced from Viet Nam that look like yours and they appear to be H. Kuda.
They are net pen raised but have been sold here as captive bred.
I don't think you will every find a true captive bred and raised for that kind of money.
They are net pen raised but have been sold here as captive bred.
I don't think you will every find a true captive bred and raised for that kind of money.
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
they look to be some of the "kelloggi" (more than likely they're hybrids) that show up in trade. these SH are raised in net pens in the ocean (usually from Sri Lanka or SE Asia), and should really be treated as WC specimens, which includes prophylactic treatment for parasites (flukes/ciliates).
unfortunately, the true cost of ownership of these SH adds a lot to their cheap price tags. just as unfortunately, these SH typically don't do very well in the long term, but i do wish you luck with them.
are they eating frozen mysis?
unfortunately, the true cost of ownership of these SH adds a lot to their cheap price tags. just as unfortunately, these SH typically don't do very well in the long term, but i do wish you luck with them.
are they eating frozen mysis?
4218kris
Active member
yes i saw one at the store eating mysis and at my home. the other goes up to the mysis but acts like he knows they are dead so doesnt eat them. they both have been eating the high population of pods in my 12g nano that they are in. i have a 20g octagon in my back yard im thinking would be better for them since its really tall.
we get these all the time in Houston. "Black" H Kuda from Viet Nam.
From what the wholesaler told me- they are raised in cement troughs- similar to water runoffs (like a bayou) that they flood w/ seawater. The fry are taken when young and weaned onto prepared mysids. So they do claim they are captive bred/raised.
These guys are very competitive eaters, and will readily take PE mysis, and a number of smaller mysid products.
A number of friends have had good success keeping these, and feeding them prepared foods
I guess these might be different fish than what Greg is describing, or all black seahorses look the same
From what the wholesaler told me- they are raised in cement troughs- similar to water runoffs (like a bayou) that they flood w/ seawater. The fry are taken when young and weaned onto prepared mysids. So they do claim they are captive bred/raised.
These guys are very competitive eaters, and will readily take PE mysis, and a number of smaller mysid products.
A number of friends have had good success keeping these, and feeding them prepared foods
I guess these might be different fish than what Greg is describing, or all black seahorses look the same
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
you're right Frank, from what i understand by speaking with some breeders i know, there is a "better than usual" source in Viet Nam, and their SH tend to fare a bit better than many.
that being said, the SH in this thread aren't kuda. they don't have the back-sloping coronet of the species.
the trouble with these SH is that many of them are raised for the TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) trade, and are destined to be dried and ground into powder, and as such, quality isn't a major concern.
Their chests are so broad, I would have guessed erectus. I know that some of the major distributors carry erectus regularly; perhaps QM had a sale or PetCo has buying power that permitted such a low price on these girls. If not, the price would suggest a species that is regularly net pen raised.
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
i noticed the broad chests too, and it gave me pause...they seem awfully smooth for erectus tho. maybe they're northerns? they have a shortish snout...i've only ever kept southerns, which is what i compared these with.
this pix aren't really good enuff to count rings and telltale face spines.
4218kris
Active member
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