help

Well I'll share my experience with seahorses, I had 4 females and 2 males all doing really really good for 3-4 months, Then I decided I would switch the lighting to LEDs (This was on my red sea max) I had two hoods at the time so it wasn't like I took it off and left them with out light for a few days...   so basically I get my led hood all built up ready to go and swap it out, the next day 2 females died, one male got a gas bubble the next day 2 more females and the other male died, the one with a gas bubble lasted about a week longer, I had to flush his gas bubble maybe every other day or so with a bobby pin.... 

its just crazy to me how sensitive they really are, and a thing like light can stress them out so bad enough to kill them, even though everything else was exactly still the same.


Edited by Nick801 - February 21 2011 at 11:40pm

I got black seahorses that are tank raised. I was told that they were the easiest to keep. So maybe it's just my lights? I only have the led lights from marieland

It's two tanks hocked up to one sump. Seahorses are slow eaters so you cant put them in tanks with others fish. Mark asked for a picture of the other tank because they are hock up together. That's why that picture is there

Mark Peterson wrote: BnK wrote: think I will stick to more hardy things lol.  for the sake of the earth, thank you.

That wasnt a very nice thing to say. Im sure when you were starting out Mark you had things die cause you didnt know exactly how to keep them happy. This hobby is a never ending learning experience. Nobody starts with all the knowledge it takes to keep our salty friends alive.

What species are they? Also from what I have read they need to eat 3-4 times a day. And do best with no fish tank mates(you said there is a blenny in there right?). I am planning to get a pair and I do believe it is Pets N such that is ordering them for me(Pam talked to them) I am hoping to have better luck. The two places that I have heard that are best to get them from is seahorsesource.com and oceanrider.com which I think is saltwater.com it is just a lot more money seems you have to pay shipping and everything.

Edited by bstuver - February 22 2011 at 6:29pm

I know nothing about sea horses but maybe the white stuff is fungal infection or parasite?

Jackie and I (bstuver) are ordering a couple of seahorses so we can have a try at it. I know the ones we ordered at tank raised and I am hoping we can do well with them.
 As with anything I read a ton on it to make sure I am prepared. The seahorse.org site is AWESOME and is full of info. I think for right now I will just start with one and go from there. I want to dedicate a tank to them.
 How are your other two doing Ashley?

I understand the fascination with Seahorses, but it saddens me to see new hobbyists undertaking the complicated care of such a difficult animal. I would put a couple years of reef experience behind me before trying Seahorses. My first Seahorse was retarded or something because it could not catch a bug right in front of it's mouth. I gave it away to my friend Suzy, the "Queen of Seahorses" in Utah. http://www.suzysreef.com
I would also check with another Seahorse enthusiast here, Tresa on this MB. She's a paid WMAS member and has a special knack with keeping unique reef organisms.

Mark Peterson wrote: I understand the fascination with Seahorses, but it saddens me to see new hobbyists undertaking the complicated care of such a difficult animal. I would put a couple years of reef experience behind me before trying Seahorses. My first Seahorse was retarded or something because it could not catch a bug right in front of it's mouth. I gave it away to my friend Suzy, the "Queen of Seahorses" in Utah. http://www.suzysreef.comI would also check with another Seahorse enthusiast here, Tresa on this MB. She's a paid WMAS member and has a special knack with keeping unique reef organisms.

Well I do a lot of reading so even though I have been only keeping a reef for almost a year, I hate hearing people try to tell others that unless they have so much experience in something they shouldn't try it.
When I was keeping freshwater I wanted to try discus so bad but because of people saying "oh they are too hard" and "don't try them because you don't have X amount of experience" I was afraid to try them. Finally I bit the bullet and was very successful and even had mine breed.
Granted I may fail and I hate to fail but to tell me not to try is really annoying IMO. The seahorses are already brought in and will go to someone, why not someone like myself who is willing to do all they can to make them successful?

Mark Peterson wrote: BnK wrote: think I will stick to more hardy things lol.  for the sake of the earth, thank you.

  This makes it sound as if just because they are new in the hobby there are restrictions as to what they should try. I don't know of anybody in this hobby that goes out buying a fish/coral etc with the thought of killing it. I personally have had people who have been in the hobby many years tell me wrong advice.
  This gal had great intentions and unfortunately she lost two .. I commend her for trying and then having the courage to come here and ask if there was anything she could do to save it.

 Many people told me I was rushing into things when I expressed interest in raising clownfish. I was told I didn't have " enough time in the hobby". I have been successful. If I didn't try I wouldn't know I could be successful. If a person has passion for something they can succeed.

As Jackie stated, they are going to continue to sell seahorses... why not sell them to people who have a passion and desire to be successful!

 It's the way it's said I think.
 Just my two cents..Pam