The Eating Habits of H. bargibanti are Unknown?

[WWCC]

After reading several online articles about H. bargibanti, it seems that people do not understand what the main food of H. bargibanti. It seems that even rotifers are too big for them. My hypothesis is that they are one of two:
- Somehow get their nutritional needs from their host gorgonia
- Feed on extremely small planktonic copepods and phytoplankton and other microscopic crustaceans.

Could it really be that simple? What do you think?

Thanks :lol2:

 

[CuttleKid]

Im pretty sure they are big enough to eat food larger than rotifers considering you feed rotifers to larval fish that are only a few milimeters in length and H. bargibanti is about 2.5 -3 inches. Again i may be wrong but it doesnt make sense for a 2 inch fish not to be able to eat crustaceans that a 3 milimeter larval fish eats.

 

[rayjay]

Not sure where you got your information from as the pictures and videos I've seen showed them to be smaller than H. zosterae.
H. bargibanti

H. bargibanti picture

 

[namxas]

Not sure where you got your information from as the pictures and videos I've seen showed them to be smaller than H. zosterae.
H. bargibanti

H. bargibanti picture

agreed...in fact, i think 1" is an extreme size, as it seems that most specimens are around 1/2" - 3/4".

i dunno if the OP's question was for general research, or research in hopes of obtaining specimens, but unless the rules have changed, you won't see H. bargibanti offered for sale.

 

[WWCC]

Well, the bargibanti that I saw were about two centimeters so I was just guessing about the foods. The size was a generalization from the pictures I saw.

Thanks guys. More opinions are always appreciated!

 

[Octoshark]

Im pretty sure they are big enough to eat food larger than rotifers considering you feed rotifers to larval fish that are only a few milimeters in length and H. bargibanti is about 2.5 -3 inches. Again i may be wrong but it doesnt make sense for a 2 inch fish not to be able to eat crustaceans that a 3 milimeter larval fish eats.

The reason is due to the snout of a seahorse. The snout of a seahorse is long and narrow with a small opening. A fish the same size, or even smaller than the seahorse, doesn't have to worry about this because they have a bigger and wider mouth opening.

Also, as stated above, I don't think they reach 3 inches.

 

[WWCC]

They don't reach any bigger than 1 inch.

 

[Octoshark]

The reason is due to the snout of a seahorse. The snout of a seahorse is long and narrow with a small opening. A fish the same size, or even smaller than the seahorse, doesn't have to worry about this because they have a bigger and wider mouth opening.

Also, as stated above, I don't think they reach 3 inches.

I just wanted to clarify on my post above.

I am not saying that this particular species can't eat rotifers, because I do not know if they can or not; I am just making the point that if that were true then that would be the reason.

 

[TamiW]

Waikiki aquarium obtains some specimens a while ago along with their host gorgonian Muricella plectana, and they appeared to feed on plankton trapped in the polyps of the gorgonian. The Muricella slowly died over a period of months, and the bargibantis were lost as well. They were observed eating newly hatch brine shrimp out of the polyps of the gorgonian and only out of the polyps. They assumed that they ate other foods as well, but because of the small size it was difficult to observe exactly what they were eating.

Since the coral is considered nearly impossible to keep alive in captivity by public aquariums, I'd say the chance of a hobbiest doing this are going to be around zero.

For more information on that attempt, see:
Chan, N. and J.C. Delbeek. 2004. Preliminary notes on the husbandry of the pygmy seahorse, Hippocampus bargibanti Whiteley, 1970 and its coral "œhost", Muricella plectana, Verrill, 1869 at the Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Drum and Croaker 35: pp 46-49 (January, 2004)

A fair guess would be that in the wild they're eating copepods and other similar sized plankton particles that get trapped by the gorgonian.

 

[WWCC]

Thanks FishGrrl! I don't know about you guys but i would love to sit in front of an acrylic cube full o the little suckers for hours and just watch 'em. I don't get how the Waikiki killed its muricella... Non photosynthetic gorgonians are easy if you devote a lot of time and invest on a variety of good foods. Sadly most public aquariums don't have that much time to devote to a few species tank. (denise and bargibanti plus color variants)

 

[rayjay]

I think a lot of people would love to be able to have them.
I would think it very unlikely to happen in my life time at least.

Non photosynthetic gorgonians are easy if you devote a lot of time and invest on a variety of good foods.

I think you may mean that it was easy for you for the non photosynthetic gorgonians that you kept.
They definitely are not all the same, and to the best of my knowledge, there is no sale of the Muricella anyway.

 

[TamiW]

Thanks FishGrrl! I don't know about you guys but i would love to sit in front of an acrylic cube full o the little suckers for hours and just watch 'em. I don't get how the Waikiki killed its muricella... Non photosynthetic gorgonians are easy if you devote a lot of time and invest on a variety of good foods. Sadly most public aquariums don't have that much time to devote to a few species tank. (denise and bargibanti plus color variants)

I would have to beg to differ. I have communicated with many that work at public aquariums and been behind the scenes at the Shedd Aquarium numerous time. These people don't mess around. The have staff dedicated to the care of their animals, and while it may not be the case that one person takes care of a single tank/display 24/7 *(though, this depends on the species), they spend much more time on a daily basis with a much larger budget than that a hobbiest would. They also have vets on staff that can help out. It is a pretty good bet if they can't keep something alive, a hobbyist won't. I'm sure there are some exceptions, but this is going to be the rule.

On to the specific case of the Muricella. Waikiki has been leading the way in non-photosynthetic coral care, and the article I references outlined the specific husbandry for the gorgonian and the seahorses, and they had access to feeds you and I don't. They threw everything at it that they could.

I can tell you're really excited about some of the unusual species that exist, but please take into consideration that you're biasing yourself because you REALLY want to be able to keep them. Its clear here and in the sea dragon thread that is what is happening. There is nothing wrong with being excited, but if you really truly want to take that kind of endeavor some day, then instead of dismissing claims that certain fish are difficult if not imposable to keep, you need to accept, study and really understand those reasons. Otherwise by denying it, you're destined to fail.

 

[WWCC]

Wow, you really diagnosed it...

 

[ChadTheSpike]

Tami is giving good and sound advice...

Excitement is great, use it to drive research and every effort to meet your animals needs but temper it with healthy skeptisism and caution. Ingredients for success.

 

[Elysia]

Alright, I know it takes very little to be thrown off RC, but this is getting annoying. The OP should be thankful that these threads have been taken as seriously as they have, especially by Tami who has cited specific instances and resources for you to research for your own edification. If you aren't interested in reading the replies, why not start a Word document rather than a post in an on-line forum?

 

[WWCC]

I am very interested in the replies. Elysia that was very rude of you. I will be laying low now for quite a while so you can all throw your hats up. Goodbye 4 now

 

[Nanook]

I am very interested in the replies. Elysia that was very rude of you. I will be laying low now for quite a while so you can all throw your hats up. Goodbye 4 now

Wise choice:thumbsup: