scared

Reverend Reefer · 03/16/2010, 11:45 AM

im kinda scared now that i've come to terms with the fact that my reidi's might have babies. what am i gonna do once they get preggers?

i started reading stuff online at seahorse.org and i am definitely intimidated by how difficult of an endeavor it will be once it happens.

seriously, what are my options besides raising these lil ones myself?

i just don't know if im ready. doing a reef tank is a walk in the park! reef tank knowledge is always a slow process and patience is often cited as the most important virtue. but slowly changing variables is not the case it seems with raising SH fry (or any fry for that matter).

i just can't bring myself to flushing them down the toilet if this happens.

should i start getting the equipment i need and space i need now? or should i be trying to find "ethical" alternatives? is giving away the broods once they're born realistic? chinese medicine? i just don't know. am i bringing up a touchy abortion debate? ha! im honestly scared and don't know if i can handle hundreds of screaming baby seahorses wanting fresh copepods, but maybe i can. is it really that hard.

sorry for the breakdown here, i guess i need some baby counselling!

rayjay · 03/16/2010, 12:04 PM

Joel, if you don't want them, I will take them and raise them.

timinnl · 03/16/2010, 12:44 PM

Yes give them to Ray.

Reverend Reefer · 03/16/2010, 01:18 PM

ok good! that's a good backup plan. thanks ray! if it happens sooner than later, i might just do that. im reading as much as i can every day and im going to start buying the equipment i'll need once i get a pay cheque but i just don't know if my girlfriend and i can handle all of them. for some reason, i didn't realize how many get born at a time. watching that video someone just posted made me really scared.

Peka · 03/16/2010, 01:54 PM

I'm glad that Ray can take them .... but just so you know, no one would think anything less of you if you let the reef take the fry or let fish in the tank consume them. Seahorses are a LOT of work to raise and Reidi are very difficult. This question has come up before and I just wanted you to know that there is nothing wrong with either of those decisions. If it wasn't for us who were concerned about the fry, those little guys would never have a chance of surviving .

namxas · 03/16/2010, 04:17 PM

i agree with Beth...no shame at all. in fact, we no longer raise fry if we have any...not even erectus. it's a LOT of work, so don't let this little thing get in the way of enjoying your SH.

Reverend Reefer · 03/16/2010, 05:06 PM

thanks for the support! yer right greg, i was stressing all last night after reading the various different designs for raising SH and the difficulty with raising live food, i almost forgot about enjoying the ones i have. i've had my reef tank setup for 4 yrs now and nothing compares to the complexity and time-sensitivity required to undertake such an endeavor of raising SH. regardless, i will try if i have the money but luckily ray lives relatively close if anything.

namxas · 03/16/2010, 05:19 PM

my very first ever SH were 1 day old erectus fry, so not only was i new to SH, but i raised them up as well!

there's always time to raise fry once you get used to keeping SH, so just put your efforts into getting a handle on the adults. if you decide to give it a shot, you can always do so later.

03/16/2010, 11:45 AM	#1
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 831	scared im kinda scared now that i've come to terms with the fact that my reidi's might have babies. what am i gonna do once they get preggers? i started reading stuff online at seahorse.org and i am definitely intimidated by how difficult of an endeavor it will be once it happens. seriously, what are my options besides raising these lil ones myself? i just don't know if im ready. doing a reef tank is a walk in the park! reef tank knowledge is always a slow process and patience is often cited as the most important virtue. but slowly changing variables is not the case it seems with raising SH fry (or any fry for that matter). i just can't bring myself to flushing them down the toilet if this happens. should i start getting the equipment i need and space i need now? or should i be trying to find "ethical" alternatives? is giving away the broods once they're born realistic? chinese medicine? i just don't know. am i bringing up a touchy abortion debate? ha! im honestly scared and don't know if i can handle hundreds of screaming baby seahorses wanting fresh copepods, but maybe i can. is it really that hard. sorry for the breakdown here, i guess i need some baby counselling!

03/16/2010, 12:04 PM	#2
rayjay Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,981	Joel, if you don't want them, I will take them and raise them. __________________ 490g soft lps clams tangs b'flies clean wrasses, seahorses. All tanks lit with N.O.fluor., most Berlin method. No clean up crews. See website for N.O. fluor. pics. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses, Reef, and Fish only

03/16/2010, 01:54 PM	#5
Peka Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Lake in the Hills Posts: 674	I'm glad that Ray can take them .... but just so you know, no one would think anything less of you if you let the reef take the fry or let fish in the tank consume them. Seahorses are a LOT of work to raise and Reidi are very difficult. This question has come up before and I just wanted you to know that there is nothing wrong with either of those decisions. If it wasn't for us who were concerned about the fry, those little guys would never have a chance of surviving . __________________ Beth Currently set up .... 90 gallon H. erectus seahorse tank 55 gallon H. reidi seahorse tank

03/16/2010, 04:17 PM	#6
namxas Things With Stings R Us! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Carson, CA Posts: 4,641	i agree with Beth...no shame at all. in fact, we no longer raise fry if we have any...not even erectus. it's a LOT of work, so don't let this little thing get in the way of enjoying your SH. __________________ Greg Current Tank Info: too many to describe, but i think the count is up to "lucky 13"!

03/16/2010, 05:19 PM	#8
namxas Things With Stings R Us! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Carson, CA Posts: 4,641	my very first ever SH were 1 day old erectus fry, so not only was i new to SH, but i raised them up as well! there's always time to raise fry once you get used to keeping SH, so just put your efforts into getting a handle on the adults. if you decide to give it a shot, you can always do so later. __________________ Greg Current Tank Info: too many to describe, but i think the count is up to "lucky 13"!

03/16/2010, 12:44 PM	#3
timinnl Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 316	Yes give them to Ray.

03/16/2010, 01:18 PM	#4
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 831	ok good! that's a good backup plan. thanks ray! if it happens sooner than later, i might just do that. im reading as much as i can every day and im going to start buying the equipment i'll need once i get a pay cheque but i just don't know if my girlfriend and i can handle all of them. for some reason, i didn't realize how many get born at a time. watching that video someone just posted made me really scared.

03/16/2010, 05:06 PM	#7
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 831	thanks for the support! yer right greg, i was stressing all last night after reading the various different designs for raising SH and the difficulty with raising live food, i almost forgot about enjoying the ones i have. i've had my reef tank setup for 4 yrs now and nothing compares to the complexity and time-sensitivity required to undertake such an endeavor of raising SH. regardless, i will try if i have the money but luckily ray lives relatively close if anything.