The babies seahorses are growing!

[vlangel]

http://s36.photobucket.com/user/vlangelbike/media/101_0461_zpskduulbgf.jpg.html?sort=3&o=12
The little seahorses are full fledged juveniles, (13 weeks) totally weaned onto frozen mysis. They eat Hikari 3Xs a day which is great because I don't have to shave or chop it. They are eating me out of house and home though, not to mention the Instant Ocean I go through with water changes. They are in a 20 gallon L with a tank divider to keep them away from the heater and HOB filter intake. They are a bunch of nosey ponies any time I clean or do anything in their tank, and rush to the action site to check it out. They are so cute at this age and I am enjoying them immensely.

 

[Cstaricansrfer1]

Glad you are having success with them.

Do you have any pictures?

 

[vlangel]

Click on the photobucket link and it should show a picture.

 

[RedAnt78]

For some reason it's not working for me....?

 

[vlangel]

For some reason it's not working for me....?

Thanks for letting me know RedAnt. I will try again.

 

[vlangel]

There, I think that'll work. And I was thinking that nobody liked my little seahorses, LOL.

 

[lifeoffaith]

Do you plan on selling them? What breed? I am currently building up my tank to be a seahorse setup.

 

[StarlinMarlin]

Your babies look great! That is awesome that you have have been successful in rearing them.

 

[vlangel]

Do you plan on selling them? What breed? I am currently building up my tank to be a seahorse setup.

They won't be ready for a bit yet and I am not sure how I am going to handle that. They are H erectus which is the hardiest of the greater seahorses.

 

[vlangel]

Your babies look great! That is awesome that you have have been successful in rearing them.

Thank you. Yes, even I am amazed that I have had so much success. I have been diligent but there is no question that I am a novice with seahorses. I have only had the parents since October.

 

[lifeoffaith]

If you decide to sell, let me know. I won't be ready for a bit anyway.

 

[RedAnt78]

Now I can see them! Wow awesome! I really hope I can keep at least some of mine alive like you have!!!

 

[lifeoffaith]

I couldn't see the photos earlier at work. They are beautiful!

 

[JLynn]

Awww! Too cute!

 

[mx29]

I was thinking of starting a seahorse tank. From Wat I have read it can be harder then a sift and lps reef tank. This true?

 

[vlangel]

Now I can see them! Wow awesome! I really hope I can keep at least some of mine alive like you have!!!

rayjay's advise about wiping down all the surfaces and cleaning the hitches every 3 days helped me. Also some of mine died, (3-4 in one week) from bacteria in their gut, (I think). I was using Selcon to enrich the bb. When I was advised to switch to Dan's Feed, I stopped losing them. From that I learned that keeping their food clean with freshly made saltwater is very important too. I changed it every day. Of course with your brood, you won't have any left over from day to day, LOL!

 

[vlangel]

Thanks lifeoffaith and JLynn. I am enjoying this stage the most. They are so nosey and inquisitive and it makes them adorable. I think some are starting to develop pouches maybe?

 

[vlangel]

I was thinking of starting a seahorse tank. From Wat I have read it can be harder then a sift and lps reef tank. This true?

I don't know that it is harder but you need to pay attention to different things. I hate testing and doing titrations for calcium, magnesium and alk. That is not necessary with seahorses. The tricky thing with seahorses is they easily get and succumb to bacterial infections and there are no over the shelf bacteria test kits. You just have to do 'due diligence' with maintenance. I do twice the water changes in my system with seahorses compared to my reef. Also I wipe down all the glass and surfaces I can reach and make sure no food has been trapped in the sandbed, rocks or decor twice weekly. I clean all my filters twice weekly. All these areas are where bacteria can start to grow and multiply. Keeping the temperature below 74 helps inhibit bacteria growth too. I would agree that seahorses are high maintenance compared to other marine tanks.

 

[mx29]

I don't know that it is harder but you need to pay attention to different things. I hate testing and doing titrations for calcium, magnesium and alk. That is not necessary with seahorses. The tricky thing with seahorses is they easily get and succumb to bacterial infections and there are no over the shelf bacteria test kits. You just have to do 'due diligence' with maintenance. I do twice the water changes in my system with seahorses compared to my reef. Also I wipe down all the glass and surfaces I can reach and make sure no food has been trapped in the sandbed, rocks or decor twice weekly. I clean all my filters twice weekly. All these areas are where bacteria can start to grow and multiply. Keeping the temperature below 74 helps inhibit bacteria growth too. I would agree that seahorses are high maintenance compared to other marine tanks.

Yea that definitely sounds like allot more maintenance with just the water changes. I think I will stick to starting a biocube 29 reef tank

 

[vlangel]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mue-rHvWa0I

I had not taken a video in a while so here is an update of them eating frozen mysis!