Thoughts On New Seahorses, Over Feeding and Water Quality

Angeline · 10/27/2006, 11:13 PM

A few weeks ago I purchased one kuda seahorse for my fish tank. I was planning on keeping a seahorse only tank, with some soft corals and inverts.

I chose the horse that I wanted, the most active and healthiest looking one, and brought it home. It took me a few weeks for it to finally get the point of where the frozen food was coming from, but once I did, I decided to introduce another seahorse (same store, same everything) to the tank. This horse has not yet understood the concept of where the food is coming from when it's feeding time.

Both horses were way too skinny, and the first one has fattened up to a healthy look, but the second one has not and I think this is because it's much too interested looking for the food on the sandbed than looking in the water column which is where the other horse gets it's food.

Because of this, and making sure that both horses (although I do feed two to three times a day) get enough to eat has resulted in overfeeding. I figure that until the other horse figures out where to get the food, I need to make sure it has food to eat.

So far this hasn't effected my water quality, I've been doing twice weekly water changes, monitoring the water quality daily, and cleaning out the filter media once a week to get rid of any rotting food that could be caught.

I want to get them trained to use a feeding station, but I know how much time that is going to take, given how they are now.

Has anyone had experience with this, or advice on this situation? I have nassarius snails that are doing a wonderful job of cleaning up the left over food, as well as a cleaner shrimp, but anything coming from people who have, or had been, in a similar situation would be wonderful.

BTW, I'm feeding them frozen mysis shrimp.

ReefNutPA · 10/28/2006, 05:50 AM

Try using a feeding bowl or putting the mysis on the substrate instead of squirting in the top of the tank and letting it float around the water. IMO, you'll get a better feeding response letting the horses eat from the bottom than chasing food floating in the water. If the newer horse sees the older one eating the mysis off the substrate/out of a bowl...it shouldn't take long for the newer one to catch on.

Also, thaw the frozen mysis in saltwater rather than freshwater. Helps the mysis to sink.

Tom

Poniegirl · 10/28/2006, 07:44 AM

If the need is urgent, you can also "corral" them in a small sectioned off area (there are tank dividers available) and make it easier to direct the attention to the feeding station or dish or rock, whatever you choose. It shouldn't take long before they can then roam but know to go to that spot when they see you.

Poniegirl · 10/30/2006, 09:17 PM

Additional thought..Do not allow food to float. The SH could snick air, and it is not natural for them to top feed. Yikes.

10/27/2006, 11:13 PM	#1
Angeline Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sacramento. CA Posts: 141	Thoughts On New Seahorses, Over Feeding and Water Quality A few weeks ago I purchased one kuda seahorse for my fish tank. I was planning on keeping a seahorse only tank, with some soft corals and inverts. I chose the horse that I wanted, the most active and healthiest looking one, and brought it home. It took me a few weeks for it to finally get the point of where the frozen food was coming from, but once I did, I decided to introduce another seahorse (same store, same everything) to the tank. This horse has not yet understood the concept of where the food is coming from when it's feeding time. Both horses were way too skinny, and the first one has fattened up to a healthy look, but the second one has not and I think this is because it's much too interested looking for the food on the sandbed than looking in the water column which is where the other horse gets it's food. Because of this, and making sure that both horses (although I do feed two to three times a day) get enough to eat has resulted in overfeeding. I figure that until the other horse figures out where to get the food, I need to make sure it has food to eat. So far this hasn't effected my water quality, I've been doing twice weekly water changes, monitoring the water quality daily, and cleaning out the filter media once a week to get rid of any rotting food that could be caught. I want to get them trained to use a feeding station, but I know how much time that is going to take, given how they are now. Has anyone had experience with this, or advice on this situation? I have nassarius snails that are doing a wonderful job of cleaning up the left over food, as well as a cleaner shrimp, but anything coming from people who have, or had been, in a similar situation would be wonderful. BTW, I'm feeding them frozen mysis shrimp.

10/28/2006, 07:44 AM	#3
Poniegirl Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 115	If the need is urgent, you can also "corral" them in a small sectioned off area (there are tank dividers available) and make it easier to direct the attention to the feeding station or dish or rock, whatever you choose. It shouldn't take long before they can then roam but know to go to that spot when they see you. __________________ "I have green eyes, silver hair, and the rest changes without notice" Anne McCaffrey Current Tank Info: 55, 20 long, a 10 ( ! )

10/30/2006, 09:17 PM	#4
Poniegirl Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 115	Additional thought..Do not allow food to float. The SH could snick air, and it is not natural for them to top feed. Yikes. __________________ "I have green eyes, silver hair, and the rest changes without notice" Anne McCaffrey Current Tank Info: 55, 20 long, a 10 ( ! )

10/28/2006, 05:50 AM	#2
ReefNutPA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pottsville, PA Posts: 860	Try using a feeding bowl or putting the mysis on the substrate instead of squirting in the top of the tank and letting it float around the water. IMO, you'll get a better feeding response letting the horses eat from the bottom than chasing food floating in the water. If the newer horse sees the older one eating the mysis off the substrate/out of a bowl...it shouldn't take long for the newer one to catch on. Also, thaw the frozen mysis in saltwater rather than freshwater. Helps the mysis to sink. Tom