Going On Vacation

360GREEF · 08/27/2008, 10:37 AM

HI TO ALL.
i have a small tank with a few giant black sea horses, and i will be going soon on vacation for about a week.
dose anyone knows of some way to feed them while i am gone??
they are eating now mysis (hiraki).
thank you

JennyL · 08/27/2008, 10:47 AM

You need to have someone come in and feed , check the horses and tank equipment everyday.

What species do you have? "Giant Black" is not a species,only a description.

360GREEF · 08/27/2008, 11:09 AM

hi .
i have no one that can come every day to feed them.

i cant find the name of the sea horse .

ann83 · 08/27/2008, 12:41 PM

If there is no one to feed them, you're only other possibility is to order a large quantity of live shrimp from someplace like www.seawaterexpress.com to hold them over. I have never resorted to this, so I am not sure how many you would need (although likely several hundred). How large are your seahorses and how much do they typically eat a day?

Edit: I just noticed that you are in Canada. I don't know the sources of live food in Canada...

JennyL · 08/27/2008, 01:06 PM

Hi ann,

The OP mentioned having several large horses in a small tank. I think by adding 100's of shrimp with possibly some deaths during that week,there could be an ammonia spike and with no one to do a water change or check the perams, it would be a major added problem.

What about calling around to find out if a LFS has someone that does tank maintenance that could come and feed the horses and check on things?
It doesn't have to be from a LFS, there are businesses that do this kind of thing. Maybe check the phone book or your local newpaper. Would be worth checking into for the horses.

Just some things to consider.

ann83 · 08/27/2008, 01:11 PM

I agree with Janet that it is 100% preferable to have someone come by the house. You would be taking a HUGE risk by doing it the way that I suggested with getting the live shrimp. The only reason that I suggested it was that leaving them without food for a week is also not an option. Sort of like a last ditch effort to keep your seahorses alive while you are gone. I've had 12 year old cousins take care of my seahorses before. If you leave the person detailed instructions, and pre-portioned servings of mysis, anyone responsible should be able to do it.

360GREEF · 08/27/2008, 01:39 PM

THANK YOU. I WOULD FOR SURE LOOK IT UP.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF SYSTEM THAT CAN FEED LIVE FOOD 24/7 WHEN I AM GONE.
MY SEA HORSES EAT 1 CUBE OF MYSIS A DAY.

krazeekiddie · 08/27/2008, 02:13 PM

There are live brine shrimp hatcheries, but that would do you no good for these guys! (you asked on a system that could feed live food 24/7)

1 week is a long time, so other then stocking the tank with live food, you really do need someone to come out & feed them daily.

When I went on vacation last year, I had my best friend who can't keep a goldfish alive feed my tanks. I cried as I pulled out of the driveway, but hey, rinsing off frozen food isn't to hard to teach someone! He did good, no deaths, I was impressed! Give a call to any family or friends, even if they don't have hobby experience, at least that way, your horses will be fed!

Good luck & I hope you enjoy your trip!

connorsbala · 08/27/2008, 04:53 PM

Agreed, best thing to do is have a neighbour or a family member you trust do it. Have him/her come in a couple of times before you go, first day show them how to do everything, talk about feeding, topping up with RO etc then the other days have them feed the horses.
I feed my seahorses a load of live shrimp once a week anyway and they eat all 50 or so within 2-3 days. SO, i add the shrimp the day before i go, then give them a good feed the day before and the morning before i leave, so i know they have had a good direct feed and they've got the shrimp that should keep them going for a bit lol

360GREEF · 08/28/2008, 08:20 AM

OR I CAN JUST TAKE THE SEA HORSES WITH

08/27/2008, 10:37 AM	#1
360GREEF Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: montreal.canada Posts: 6	Going On Vacation HI TO ALL. i have a small tank with a few giant black sea horses, and i will be going soon on vacation for about a week. dose anyone knows of some way to feed them while i am gone?? they are eating now mysis (hiraki). thank you __________________ 360gallon.buble king 250external.calcium deltec 601. 50g sump. 350lb live rock. 2 tunze 6125 with multi controller. Current Tank Info: 360gallon

08/27/2008, 10:47 AM	#2
JennyL Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 406	You need to have someone come in and feed , check the horses and tank equipment everyday. What species do you have? "Giant Black" is not a species,only a description. __________________ Janet Current Tank Info: 125 & 70 g Reefs- 9 Seahorse tanks

08/27/2008, 11:09 AM	#3
360GREEF Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: montreal.canada Posts: 6	hi hi . i have no one that can come every day to feed them. i cant find the name of the sea horse . __________________ 360gallon.buble king 250external.calcium deltec 601. 50g sump. 350lb live rock. 2 tunze 6125 with multi controller. Current Tank Info: 360gallon

08/27/2008, 01:06 PM	#5
JennyL Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 406	Hi ann, The OP mentioned having several large horses in a small tank. I think by adding 100's of shrimp with possibly some deaths during that week,there could be an ammonia spike and with no one to do a water change or check the perams, it would be a major added problem. What about calling around to find out if a LFS has someone that does tank maintenance that could come and feed the horses and check on things? It doesn't have to be from a LFS, there are businesses that do this kind of thing. Maybe check the phone book or your local newpaper. Would be worth checking into for the horses. Just some things to consider. __________________ Janet Current Tank Info: 125 & 70 g Reefs- 9 Seahorse tanks

08/27/2008, 01:39 PM	#7
360GREEF Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: montreal.canada Posts: 6	THANK YOU THANK YOU. I WOULD FOR SURE LOOK IT UP. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF SYSTEM THAT CAN FEED LIVE FOOD 24/7 WHEN I AM GONE. MY SEA HORSES EAT 1 CUBE OF MYSIS A DAY. __________________ 360gallon.buble king 250external.calcium deltec 601. 50g sump. 350lb live rock. 2 tunze 6125 with multi controller. Current Tank Info: 360gallon

08/27/2008, 12:41 PM	#4
ann83 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: MO Posts: 937	If there is no one to feed them, you're only other possibility is to order a large quantity of live shrimp from someplace like www.seawaterexpress.com to hold them over. I have never resorted to this, so I am not sure how many you would need (although likely several hundred). How large are your seahorses and how much do they typically eat a day? Edit: I just noticed that you are in Canada. I don't know the sources of live food in Canada...

08/27/2008, 01:11 PM	#6
ann83 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: MO Posts: 937	I agree with Janet that it is 100% preferable to have someone come by the house. You would be taking a HUGE risk by doing it the way that I suggested with getting the live shrimp. The only reason that I suggested it was that leaving them without food for a week is also not an option. Sort of like a last ditch effort to keep your seahorses alive while you are gone. I've had 12 year old cousins take care of my seahorses before. If you leave the person detailed instructions, and pre-portioned servings of mysis, anyone responsible should be able to do it.

08/27/2008, 02:13 PM	#8
krazeekiddie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Good Ole' CT (Bristol) Posts: 438	There are live brine shrimp hatcheries, but that would do you no good for these guys! (you asked on a system that could feed live food 24/7) 1 week is a long time, so other then stocking the tank with live food, you really do need someone to come out & feed them daily. When I went on vacation last year, I had my best friend who can't keep a goldfish alive feed my tanks. I cried as I pulled out of the driveway, but hey, rinsing off frozen food isn't to hard to teach someone! He did good, no deaths, I was impressed! Give a call to any family or friends, even if they don't have hobby experience, at least that way, your horses will be fed! Good luck & I hope you enjoy your trip!

08/27/2008, 04:53 PM	#9
connorsbala Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 73	Agreed, best thing to do is have a neighbour or a family member you trust do it. Have him/her come in a couple of times before you go, first day show them how to do everything, talk about feeding, topping up with RO etc then the other days have them feed the horses. I feed my seahorses a load of live shrimp once a week anyway and they eat all 50 or so within 2-3 days. SO, i add the shrimp the day before i go, then give them a good feed the day before and the morning before i leave, so i know they have had a good direct feed and they've got the shrimp that should keep them going for a bit lol __________________ Seahorse Tank: Pair of H.Reidi, Black Percula Clown and a Mandarin Reef: Pair of Percula Clowns and a Banggai Cardinal, aswell as various Corals and a BTA Planted: Trio of Dwarf Puffers Axolotl Tank: Breeding Pair of Axies Current Tank Info: 24/6/08: I have a 6 month old Seahorse Tank, Year Old Reef, 6 Month Dwarf Puffer Tank and an Axolotl Tank

08/28/2008, 08:20 AM	#10
360GREEF Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: montreal.canada Posts: 6	REPLY OR I CAN JUST TAKE THE SEA HORSES WITH __________________ 360gallon.buble king 250external.calcium deltec 601. 50g sump. 350lb live rock. 2 tunze 6125 with multi controller. Current Tank Info: 360gallon