Lynn and Franks 24g hitching post.

[sasquatch]

Well yeah, we can only idolize so many hours a day lol

[lcstorc]

Well unfortunately I am updating this thread with some bad news,
Last night one of my seahorses died. Somehow she got up against the overflow on the tank and was stuck there. I broke the suction and she swam away but she had a large injury to one of her gills. Unfortunately this was more than she could take and she died 2 hours later.
I really don't understand what happened. There is very low flow in the tank to prevent this but somehow she got pressed up against it and couldn't get away.
To make matters worse my other seahorse didn't eat her dinner tonight. I think she is lonely without her friend. I have checked all of the parameters on the system and even did separate tests on the pony tank even though it shares water with the reef. Everything tested just fine. I haven't gotten any new fish lately (until today) so it wasn't something introduced with a new fish.
Anyway, hopefully she will eat breakfast and be fine.

[sasquatch]

, Really not fair, sorry Lynn! karma as soon as it frees up.Steve

[Dentoid]

Lynn, I'm really sorry to hear about your loss! You have put a lot of sweat and tears into those ponies and gave them a fighting chance. Karma to you!

[panmanmatt]

Lynn, sorry to hear of the loss. Usually a healthy horse can get away from the intakes on their own. Maybe she was in a weakened condition but wasn't exhibiting any outward signs, it does happen.

Keep a very close eye on the other one. If it doesn't eat today, then I would set up a hospital tank and prepare to treat her. If she doesn't eat for 3-4 days you will have to force feed her if she is to have any chance of survival.

Directions and a list of supplies for force feding can be found here:
Force Feeding - Seahorse.org

Please keep us posted and let me know if you need anything else.

[Dentoid]

Force feeding-That just ain't right! I'VE SEEN IT ALL NOW! How much more stress can be placed on such a tiny creature. Don't ask me how it would ever survive! If it's not eating there is a reason, why forced it!

[panmanmatt]

Because seahorses have to eat everyday as they have no true stomach to digest and absorb vitamins ans essentials for survival. If they have not eaten for 3-4 days organs start shutting down and starvation will occur in short time. Seahorses can go off their food for many reasons, stress, poor health, even just shipping a horse is enough to possibly cause it to go off feed for a couple days. It doesn't neccessarily mean the horse is sick. It could also be caused by physical damage to the snout and the horse will need to be fed until the wound heals and it is able to feed on it's own again.

Force feding is a last resort, and if done properly it is not stressful on the seahorse as it is sedated. It is not for everyone, but those that are serious about keeping them alive will go to great lengths and expense to do so.

You can also try stimulating her feeding response with live foods if she is ignoring the frozen. Amphipods, mysis and even appropriately sized ghst shrimp may be what it takes to get her back feeding again.

Scott, seahorses aren't always tiny. This is only done with the larger species of seahorses such as erectus, kuda, barbouri, etc. It is an very extreme procedure to try and it is not for everyone.

[Dentoid]

I bow down to your expertise. It just seems like much for the average hobbyist to contend with. I can only see this being done by an ichthyologist, a veterinarian, a marine biologist or someone that has studied the anatomy/physiology of these creatures. I'm sure there are risks associated with kind of feeding.

[panmanmatt]

I'm far from an expert, just an enthused hobbiest. I devote time to my horses like some folks do to their reef tanks.

Yes, it is an invasive procedure and is not for just anybody. I just felt that Lynn was dedicated enough and had the knowledge to carry it out if the need arises.
I apologize if my post sounded definsive. That was not my intention in the least. I am just a hobbiest sharing and gathering information from these boards like everyone else. Seahorses just happen to be an area where I have the knowledge to share with others.

Again, I apologize for any offense that was taken from my previous posts.

Matt

[bluespotjawfish]

Lynnnnn,

I'mmm ssssooo soorrryyyy!

[lcstorc]

She is very tiny so I am not sure if I could force feed her or not. I certainly would be willing to try. She again didn't eat her breakfast this morning. She chases the mysis but when it gets close she swims away. She doesn't try to eat it. Unfortunately I don't know if she ate dinner since one of my stepchildren was admitted to the hostpital last night and Frank fed everybody when he came home to nap a bit. Of course my mind was on Samantha and not my pony.
I don't really have a hospital tank though I could get one if needed. I would be afraid to put her into an uncycled tank. I only have a clown goby and a jawfish in there with her and could easily disconnect the pony tank from the reef. Can I pull the fish out and treat her in her tank? What should I give her for treatment?
Any suggestions or assistance would be greatly appreciated. I am willing to do nearly anything to give her the best chance possible.
Even though she is chasing the mysis I will try to find some live food and give that a try. Unfortunately the only live food i have gotten is brine shrimp. If I can't find live mysis or ghost shrimp is it worth trying the brine or is that so low on nutrition it is not worth it.
Again thanks for your help.

[panmanmatt]

Lynn, you will want to treat in a seperate tank as the meds will kill off your bio-filter. Treatment will be neomycin and triple sulfa. Neomycin is dosed at 250mg per gallon and triple sulfa is per package directions.

Live brine will work is she will take it. Enriched is best but un enriched is better than nothing at this point.

If you need a lace to get the meds or enrichments, contact Dan at SeahorseSource.com. He has all that in stock and is only about an hour south of you. If you can get in touch with him first thing tomorrow he can get the stuff out to you before he leaves for IMAC in Chicago on Thursday.

Contact info is on his site.

Seahorse Source, the ultimate place for captive bred seahorses.

Sorry to hear about your child. Hope all is well with her. KArma to you and the family.

[Frankie]

Nice work panmanmatt. Its good to see someone with a clue once and a while!

[panmanmatt]

Frankie, thanks for the kind words. I just try to help when I can.

Lynn, here is the Hospital set up I prefer and the dosages for the meds.

If you have or can get a simple 10 gallon tank that would make for the best hospital tank. Just a fake plant and small filter or airline is alll that is needed. You will need to do 50% water changes daily and replace the meds at a 50% rate also.

So for a 10 gallon tank you will need 2500mg of neomycin for day 1 and 1250mg for days 2-10.

Triple Sulfa is usually 2 packets on day 1 and 1 packet each day for 2-10.

For a 20 gallon tank, just double the doses I gave and you will see how it can add up really quickly as far as having enough product.

If you have a feed store near by see if you can get Biosol. It is the liquid version of neomycin used for treating livestock.

[lcstorc]

Thank you very much. I have found almost everything I need and hopefully will be able to begin treatment tonight. I just hope I am in time and it works.
Wish me luck. You know I will try my best. Oh she wouldn't eat the brine. Just watches it the same as she does the mysis. She was eating great until all of this started.