Identifying Seahorses

Cougra · 03-05-2007, 09:34 PM

As a past time I like photograph and identify new fish that I see at the LFS. However I'm lost when it comes to identifying Seahorses. Are there any definate clues to look for to help identify the different species?

I've noticed that whenever I'm not sure I tend to label them as H. reidi since they all look very similar to me. Here are three photos of horses that I would like help IDing if you don't mind!

panmanmatt · 03-05-2007, 09:43 PM

2 and 3 look to be reidi but it's hard to tell from those pics, could be kuda. Both are definitely males though. I can't tell anything on the first one. Is it possible to get a side profile of the heads? The coronet is the easiest way to differeniate between kuda and reidi. Kuda have a higher more rearward sloping coronet whereas reidi is lower and not sloped.

Take a look here for some pics of the different species.
http://www.seahorse.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=12&g2_GAL LERYSID=630b7e7bb7ace6f1af533ec2790b80b4

Woodstock · 03-05-2007, 09:59 PM

I had a few once. Is this a Reidi?

blue_eyes53813 · 03-05-2007, 10:13 PM

what is the limit per tank.?. like fish are 1 inch per 5 gallon . and do you have to keep species only tanks?

lcstorc · 03-05-2007, 10:38 PM

They are best kept in species only tanks. There are 2 problems with other tankmates. One is agression. The other is competition. Seahorses move rather slowly so they are easy prey for anything agressive. They are also slow eaters so if there is food competition around they will slowly starve. I have 2 shrimp, 1 clown goby and a pearly jawfish with mine. The clown gobies and jawfish are 2 that are supposed to be passive enough to keep with ponies. I still have to watch it with the feeding though. I put a few mysis in at a time and make sure both ponies are eating at every feeding. Right now I am feeding 3 times a day. Once they get bigger I will probably cut back to the twice a day I was doing with my larger kudas. I'm a bit paranoid right now since my new ponies are so small.
I also have a higher bioload than normal because my tank shares water with my reef. I would never have the 2 ponies, 2 fish and 2 shrimp in a 24 if it was a stand alone. I just don't think I could keep the paramaters stable enough with that kind of load on such a small tank. It is recommended that you have at least a 30g tank for them so I am definitely pushing it.
Hands down the hardest thing for me with the ponies is the temp. They like much cooler water than you normally find in a reef. I see recommended temps from 72 - 76. When I was running at 79 everyone at seahorse.org said that was the cause of my problems. I now have a chiller so hopefully these little girls will fare better. One of the problems I have heard with the higher temp is that it is a breeding ground for bacteria. I will never know what happened to my first 2 ponies, but the third definitely died of some kind of infection he was not able to fight off.

panmanmatt · 03-06-2007, 06:28 PM

Doni, those would be kuda. They have larger spots than reidi and a higher coronet. Let me see if I can find the pics I have of the differnt coronets in reidi and kuda.

aquaman3680 · 03-06-2007, 07:01 PM

Michelle... The first one looks like a kuda and the last two look like reidis

Matt

panmanmatt · 03-06-2007, 08:01 PM

Ok here's the pics of the different coronets. These are not my pics, I got them from a freind of mine(seahorsedreams) from SH.org.

Here is an example of a Reidi coronet.

And here are the Kuda.

Cougra · 03-06-2007, 08:07 PM

Thanks for those photos panmanmatt. They definately help sort those two types out.

panmanmatt · 03-06-2007, 08:44 PM

Not a problem. Glad I could help.

03-05-2007, 09:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	Identifying Seahorses As a past time I like photograph and identify new fish that I see at the LFS. However I'm lost when it comes to identifying Seahorses. Are there any definate clues to look for to help identify the different species? I've noticed that whenever I'm not sure I tend to label them as H. reidi since they all look very similar to me. Here are three photos of horses that I would like help IDing if you don't mind! __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

03-05-2007, 09:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
panmanmatt Acropora Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 1,904 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Identifying Seahorses 2 and 3 look to be reidi but it's hard to tell from those pics, could be kuda. Both are definitely males though. I can't tell anything on the first one. Is it possible to get a side profile of the heads? The coronet is the easiest way to differeniate between kuda and reidi. Kuda have a higher more rearward sloping coronet whereas reidi is lower and not sloped. Take a look here for some pics of the different species. http://www.seahorse.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=12&g2_GAL LERYSID=630b7e7bb7ace6f1af533ec2790b80b4

03-05-2007, 09:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,861 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Identifying Seahorses I had a few once. Is this a Reidi? __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

03-05-2007, 10:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 6,255 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Identifying Seahorses what is the limit per tank.?. like fish are 1 inch per 5 gallon . and do you have to keep species only tanks? __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

03-05-2007, 10:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,473 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Identifying Seahorses They are best kept in species only tanks. There are 2 problems with other tankmates. One is agression. The other is competition. Seahorses move rather slowly so they are easy prey for anything agressive. They are also slow eaters so if there is food competition around they will slowly starve. I have 2 shrimp, 1 clown goby and a pearly jawfish with mine. The clown gobies and jawfish are 2 that are supposed to be passive enough to keep with ponies. I still have to watch it with the feeding though. I put a few mysis in at a time and make sure both ponies are eating at every feeding. Right now I am feeding 3 times a day. Once they get bigger I will probably cut back to the twice a day I was doing with my larger kudas. I'm a bit paranoid right now since my new ponies are so small. I also have a higher bioload than normal because my tank shares water with my reef. I would never have the 2 ponies, 2 fish and 2 shrimp in a 24 if it was a stand alone. I just don't think I could keep the paramaters stable enough with that kind of load on such a small tank. It is recommended that you have at least a 30g tank for them so I am definitely pushing it. Hands down the hardest thing for me with the ponies is the temp. They like much cooler water than you normally find in a reef. I see recommended temps from 72 - 76. When I was running at 79 everyone at seahorse.org said that was the cause of my problems. I now have a chiller so hopefully these little girls will fare better. One of the problems I have heard with the higher temp is that it is a breeding ground for bacteria. I will never know what happened to my first 2 ponies, but the third definitely died of some kind of infection he was not able to fight off. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

03-06-2007, 06:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
panmanmatt Acropora Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 1,904 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Identifying Seahorses Doni, those would be kuda. They have larger spots than reidi and a higher coronet. Let me see if I can find the pics I have of the differnt coronets in reidi and kuda.

03-06-2007, 07:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
aquaman3680 Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,130 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Identifying Seahorses Michelle... The first one looks like a kuda and the last two look like reidis Matt __________________ Check it out! The 90 gallon Road Trip

03-06-2007, 08:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
panmanmatt Acropora Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 1,904 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Identifying Seahorses Ok here's the pics of the different coronets. These are not my pics, I got them from a freind of mine(seahorsedreams) from SH.org. Here is an example of a Reidi coronet. And here are the Kuda.

03-06-2007, 08:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Identifying Seahorses Thanks for those photos panmanmatt. They definately help sort those two types out. __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

03-06-2007, 08:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
panmanmatt Acropora Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 1,904 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Identifying Seahorses Not a problem. Glad I could help.

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