Seahorses and Disease

[Fredfish]

In all my years of keeping fish, salt water and fresh, I have very rarely run into problems with disease.

I think a lot of that has to do with the foods I choose and the care I take with water quality. A 'clean' tank where you can see through the front glass, now thats another story.

My first year with seahorses has gone very well and I think a lot of it has to do with the size of my system and my limited bioload, something I did quite deliberately.

However, I keep reading threads from people in a panic because their horses are suddenly not doing well. Many of these instances do not end well because seahorses seem to go down hill so quickly.

I also keep reading that horses suddenly become sick for no apparent reason.

So, am I next? Is it just a matter of time? Melevs' post really hit home. He is an exceptional aquarist who has a lot of experience keeping many different creatures.

Fred

 

[XMASTER]

Mines still not eating I added live brine to the tank and he just looks at it but does not eat it

 

[hawkfish21]

I added live brine to mine as a treat and my horses didn't like it either. They do love PE Mysis though. You might want to try that. BTW, one of my females went on a three week hunger strike and has finally started to eat again. She is a little skinny, but hopefully will recover. I hope your's does too.

 

[Fredfish]

Hmm. That sucks. I have never seen my horses refuse live food.

If there are no external symptoms of disease I wonder if you hava a parasite issue. This is where folks like DanU and LisaD are invaluable. They have a lot of experience with horses including disease.

If I were you, I would start a new thread asking for help with your sick horse.

Fred

 

[XMASTER]

Ok I will start a new thread.
Thanks Fredfish an hawkfish21

 

[ReefNutPA]

Fred,

IMO some of the major errors some new hobbyists make in regards to seahorses are improper housing (tank too small or they create a tank they like as opposed to what is best for the seahorses), high temperatures (more often than not sick seahorses come from a tank with a constantly high temp >76F ), improper tankmates, poor water quality, improper food/feeding, poor tank maintenance... the list goes on.

I believe if you start with a large tank, have pristine water quality, feed correctly, have proper temps AND purchase your seahorses directly from a reputable breeder... your chances of having a problem are greatly reduced.

I honestly believe, no matter how successful a hobbyist is.... if you "push the envelope" with seahorses, more often than not they'll be failure in your future.

Tom

 

[LisaD]

I think Tom is correct. Also, when you start changing things an otherwise fine, long-term tank can go downhill, fast. Only add more animals or change things around a lot of you are very careful. I like to push the envelope, but it really isn't the way to go with seahorses.

 

[Swanwillow]

so far, short term, I've done well, I think (since my kuda/reidi things are breeding)

most of the oh-my-god-help-me threads are actually problems that occured either
1)the horses did not get QT'd, and have been in the tank less than 3 months... they are usually in tanks that just have _something_ wrong with them.

2)long term-problems... the person you mentioned only fed his horse once/day... and did not QT his new arrival. normal reef tanks, thats a great way to do it. people think that seahorses can get away with that too. I OCCASIONALLY only feed once/day... but thats like, one or twice a week: someone is usually home for the morning feeding, and my boyfriend is now fully versed in feeding the seahorses, and what to watch out for incase of problems.

now, the whole horse not eating things, I dunno-I can't pin down one thing, but can think of many: not getting CB horses, feeding live brine OFTEN, and supplementing that feeding with the frozen, not vice-versa. The horses usually still weren't QT'd for any amount of time... things like that.

I still think that seahorses should be considered delicate and hard... but since they are actually becoming easy makes it seem like they aren't delicate...

 

[Fredfish]

From a post LisaD did in melevs' thread:

... or it can appear without obvious cause.

This is what prompted me to post this thread. I have seen statements like this multiple times, and at times posted by people with a fair amount of experience with seahorses.

Looking at the responses here, there is an underlying current. Seahorses are different. "thats ok for reeftanks, but" ... "don't push the envelope" ...

Much like discus 20 years ago, It seems there is something fundemental about seahorse husbandry that we are missing.

So, the "seahorses are different" undercurrent that runs through many threads + when they get sick they go downhill fast + LisaDs' "...without obvious cause" = freds' post.

Just thoughtfully stirring the pot.

Fred

 

[XMASTER]

Ok I'm back with good news I got my Seababy to eat today I got him live Ghose shrimp he ate 5 of them WooHoooo!!!!
Thanks for all the help and info guys I'll keep you updated

 

[Fredfish]

Great news xmaster. Now the tricky part. Seahorses have a very strong preferance for live foods like mysids. You need to get him eating frozen as soon as possible.

What I have seen recommended is to feed them mysis one meal, let them get hungry and then offer frozen. You may need to entice him by making the frozen food 'dance' by blowing them with a jet of water. Horses also react very strongly to motion of any kind.

Let us know how it goes.

Fred

 

[Swanwillow]

he has a special problem-it has snout rot... that we're trying to teach him on seahorse.org to treat...

probably won't beable to eat large mysis for awhile..

 

[Fredfish]

So what you are saying is that the seahorse can only eat small foods?

Fred

 

[Swanwillow]

for now- but we're also advising to get him to EAT period...

its a bad situation, sounding like!!!