Not looking for book knowledge here. From folks who actually keep seahorses:
How many times a day? How much do you feed? What are your tips and tricks?
LL
How many times a day? How much do you feed? What are your tips and tricks?
LL
SH Keepers: What's your feeding schedule?
- Thread starter Lightsluvr
- Start date
pledosophy
Active member
I feed once a day. Usually around 6:30pm. I just break off a hunk, it's always to much. I then put that hunk in a pvc I mounted over the feeding tank so as the shrimp melt they just fall into the dish. I have used a turkey baster before for this as well.
I used to feed twice a day via turkey baster into a feeding dish. Was using PE flat packs then too, so I just brke a piece off.
When I fed live I would feed 12 shrimp a day for two horses and 8 a day for one. I fed once a day then too, but the way the tank was it would take the seahorses a couple hours to find all the food.
JME
I used to feed twice a day via turkey baster into a feeding dish. Was using PE flat packs then too, so I just brke a piece off.
When I fed live I would feed 12 shrimp a day for two horses and 8 a day for one. I fed once a day then too, but the way the tank was it would take the seahorses a couple hours to find all the food.
JME
I feed twice a day using a battery water dispenser (bulb type) to place the food in the feeding bowls.
I like the battery dispenser better than the turkey basters as it is a larger bulb with a long thin tube, which in my experience gave me more control.
Also, the rubber has lasted longer than the bulbs on my previous turkey basters, which aged after a few years. The battery dispenser rubber is made to withstand acid so the salt water doesn't seem to affect the rubber so far.
This also works better for blowing off corals etc. as the larger bulb has more volume for a better flow each squeeze.
I like the battery dispenser better than the turkey basters as it is a larger bulb with a long thin tube, which in my experience gave me more control.
Also, the rubber has lasted longer than the bulbs on my previous turkey basters, which aged after a few years. The battery dispenser rubber is made to withstand acid so the salt water doesn't seem to affect the rubber so far.
This also works better for blowing off corals etc. as the larger bulb has more volume for a better flow each squeeze.
Feeding schedule
Feeding schedule
I used to feed three times a day, believing that since seahorses do not have a stomach, they must have frequent feedings... no wonder I was constantly battling algae and cyano in the tanks...
I am now down to twice a day feedings...at lights on in the morning, and about an hour before lights out at night ---roughly noon and 9:00 p.m.
The seahorses have come to recognize that when the pumps go off, it's going to be chow time, so they slowly migrate to a (shell) feeding dish front & center in the tank. Then I use a turkey baster to deposit PE Mysis shrimp into the shell, about 4-5 for each horse. If one of the horses is not at the feeding station, I will serve him a few mysis shrimp where they are hanging...but I try to train them to all congregate at the shell...
After 30-45 minutes, I siphon excess shrimp out of the bowl and serve it to the fish in my 180G reef. I don't feed it to the fish in the seahorse tank, as I don't want to encourage them to steal the mysis from the seahorse station...
I like the battery water dispenser idea...I'll have to look into that.
LL
Feeding schedule
I used to feed three times a day, believing that since seahorses do not have a stomach, they must have frequent feedings... no wonder I was constantly battling algae and cyano in the tanks...
I am now down to twice a day feedings...at lights on in the morning, and about an hour before lights out at night ---roughly noon and 9:00 p.m.
The seahorses have come to recognize that when the pumps go off, it's going to be chow time, so they slowly migrate to a (shell) feeding dish front & center in the tank. Then I use a turkey baster to deposit PE Mysis shrimp into the shell, about 4-5 for each horse. If one of the horses is not at the feeding station, I will serve him a few mysis shrimp where they are hanging...but I try to train them to all congregate at the shell...
After 30-45 minutes, I siphon excess shrimp out of the bowl and serve it to the fish in my 180G reef. I don't feed it to the fish in the seahorse tank, as I don't want to encourage them to steal the mysis from the seahorse station...
I like the battery water dispenser idea...I'll have to look into that.
LL
A hunk of?
A hunk of?
A hunk of what kind of food?
Do you soak in vitamins or Selcon or something similar?
LL
A hunk of?
A hunk of what kind of food?
Do you soak in vitamins or Selcon or something similar?
LL
eisaiasjr
New member
Feeding
Feeding
Hello:
I feed 1 time per day however I make sure that I put enough in the plate to last the entire day. I think that if you dont teach your SHs to feed from a feeding plate you will have lots of issues with water quality.
I will grab 2-3 cubes worth of PE Mysis (it comes in a big frozen plank) and put it on a net and I rinse it until it defrosts. This eliminates lots of small protein that would normally just pollute the water. I put the now defrosted mysis in a small cup and I add 4 drops of ELOS Vitamine (Selcon works well too) wait 10-15 minutes for the mysis to soak up some of the vitamine and then I use a small clear tube to place the mysis onto the feeding plate.
In the event that there is excess food left overnight (usually happens 1-2 times per week) I will suction it our with the same clear tube before adding the new food.
This procedure ensures that my SHs have food throughout the day.
Regards,
Estefano
Feeding
Hello:
I feed 1 time per day however I make sure that I put enough in the plate to last the entire day. I think that if you dont teach your SHs to feed from a feeding plate you will have lots of issues with water quality.
I will grab 2-3 cubes worth of PE Mysis (it comes in a big frozen plank) and put it on a net and I rinse it until it defrosts. This eliminates lots of small protein that would normally just pollute the water. I put the now defrosted mysis in a small cup and I add 4 drops of ELOS Vitamine (Selcon works well too) wait 10-15 minutes for the mysis to soak up some of the vitamine and then I use a small clear tube to place the mysis onto the feeding plate.
In the event that there is excess food left overnight (usually happens 1-2 times per week) I will suction it our with the same clear tube before adding the new food.
This procedure ensures that my SHs have food throughout the day.
Regards,
Estefano
pledosophy
Active member
Re: A hunk of?
Re: A hunk of?
I feed PE mysis. I choose it because it has a lower fat content and is higher in protein then other brands. I buy the flat pack so there are no cubes. It's significantly cheaper in my area and better fits my needs for the amount of mysis I need. I cube just doesn't work for me, it may be perfect for you.
I don't enrich with anything these days. If I have a sick seahorse I will feed selcon and beta glucan to live artemia and then feed that out after the shrimp have ingested some of the good stuff. Beta Glucan stimulates the immune system. I do the same thing with new arrivals, but add dewormer to that mix.
From what I have seen when using enrichment with frozen foods is that little of it actually makes it way into the seahorse. More often it just blows off when it hits the water. The shrimp are already hydrated so there absorption is very low IMO. My opinion is based on various things I have read, others will strongly disagree. It's one of those topics. I can say for certain IME that a seahorse can live a very long, happy, disease free life never being fed enriched foods.
I also suck out uneaten food, but usually the morning after. I have converted my sump into a little LPS farm, so the uneaten food gets target fed to the corals.
I have enough plants in my system that they absorb and need the extra nutrients in the water. When I cut back on feeding I loose growth in the macro, but that is just how my system is. I even pulled my basketball sized piece of chaeto out to give the display plants more to feed from.
If I was having nutrient problems or did not have so much macro I would definitely thaw the mysis separately, rinse and then feed. It's just not a problem I have personally, but it is a good way to limit the nutrient quanity in the water.
HTH, JME
So far so good.
Re: A hunk of?
I feed PE mysis. I choose it because it has a lower fat content and is higher in protein then other brands. I buy the flat pack so there are no cubes. It's significantly cheaper in my area and better fits my needs for the amount of mysis I need. I cube just doesn't work for me, it may be perfect for you.
I don't enrich with anything these days. If I have a sick seahorse I will feed selcon and beta glucan to live artemia and then feed that out after the shrimp have ingested some of the good stuff. Beta Glucan stimulates the immune system. I do the same thing with new arrivals, but add dewormer to that mix.
From what I have seen when using enrichment with frozen foods is that little of it actually makes it way into the seahorse. More often it just blows off when it hits the water. The shrimp are already hydrated so there absorption is very low IMO. My opinion is based on various things I have read, others will strongly disagree. It's one of those topics. I can say for certain IME that a seahorse can live a very long, happy, disease free life never being fed enriched foods.
I also suck out uneaten food, but usually the morning after. I have converted my sump into a little LPS farm, so the uneaten food gets target fed to the corals.
I have enough plants in my system that they absorb and need the extra nutrients in the water. When I cut back on feeding I loose growth in the macro, but that is just how my system is. I even pulled my basketball sized piece of chaeto out to give the display plants more to feed from.
If I was having nutrient problems or did not have so much macro I would definitely thaw the mysis separately, rinse and then feed. It's just not a problem I have personally, but it is a good way to limit the nutrient quanity in the water.
HTH, JME
So far so good.
Thanks.
Thanks.
I saw the photos of your tank - beautiful plants. Is there an online source for similar plantings that I could add...I currently use plastic plants for my horses to latch onto around the feeding station (a scallop shell super-glued to an upside down plastic lid)
LL
Thanks.
I saw the photos of your tank - beautiful plants. Is there an online source for similar plantings that I could add...I currently use plastic plants for my horses to latch onto around the feeding station (a scallop shell super-glued to an upside down plastic lid)
LL
Re: Re: Feeding schedule
Re: Re: Feeding schedule
Will do - didn't find one at the Wally World, will try an autozone to see if they have them...
LL
Re: Re: Feeding schedule
Will do - didn't find one at the Wally World, will try an autozone to see if they have them...
LL
pledosophy
Active member
Re: Thanks.
Re: Thanks.
I can ship, have for many on the boards. I pruin pretty often. Just PM me with what your looking for.
As far as businesses reefcleaners.org is about the best around.
Re: Thanks.
I can ship, have for many on the boards. I pruin pretty often. Just PM me with what your looking for.
As far as businesses reefcleaners.org is about the best around.
mollymonticello
Member
I feed PE and Hikari mysis because I have adult and Juvie seahorses. Mostly I feed once a day, right when I get home from work. I use a large syringe and target feed each seahorse. Any food that gets away is eaten by my Brotulids, gobies, peppermint, and Nassarius. If they look cute enough when they beg, I'll feed them twice in one day. Sometimes I'll drop a cube in in the morning before work. I feed about 3 or 4 cubes a day -- two or three Hikari and one PE -- for three juvies and two adults, plus other fish.
pledosophy
Active member
Hi Excessive. 
Your a mad man. No wonder your horses get so big so fast.
Your a mad man. No wonder your horses get so big so fast.
Excessive...
Excessive...
Thanks for sharing that secret, Dan!
Say hello to Abbie from her loyal Edmond, Oklahoma customers...
LL
Excessive...
Thanks for sharing that secret, Dan!
Say hello to Abbie from her loyal Edmond, Oklahoma customers...
LL
