FAQs Answered on RC

[Seahorsewisprer]

Hi, Guys! I have been looking around RC for information about my other tanks, and I think a lot of these links are very pertinent to our sygnathid species. I keep finding cool stuff, then trying to find it again is a PIA! There is sooo much info here, it is easy to lose really good stuff. I'm going to start this thread to help me retreive it later.

Here's a great article for newbies, with lots of info about basic stuff:


Starting with Marines


From the Breeder's Forum, a wealth of information about live food. If your male seahorse's belly is swelling, you need this:

Microfood Culture

When my WC seahorses got sick, I found a lot of help from the moderators in the disease forum. They answered my call for help quickly, and were very helpful.

The Fish Disease Forum

Here's the link to the Do-it-Yourself page. There are some really cool plans for skimmers, overflows and anything else you might want for your tidepool tank.

DIY Plans/Suppliers

Anthony Calfo's new book has a chapter about seahorses. He has a very informative forum, and he is the nicest guy. His last book was on inverts and he's written for a lot of magazines. Here is a link to most of his articles (Sarah, he wrote one for you about Seagrasses!):


Calfo's Works


Want info on macroalgaes? There is a forum for questions, and this link to other links:

Links to marine plant sites

There is so much information on this site, it can be overwhelming. If you find something interesting, post it here so we can reference it. Maybe we can save us some time reanswering FAQs, and save others time from searching for it!

Thanks for reading my thread!

[Samala]

A great thread Aero, I was hoping we could get Mark or Nanook (the mods) to sticky this for us so we can add to it as time goes on.

[Seahorsewisprer]

Thanks, Sarah! Can we link to your site, o' Goddess of Seagrass?

Here's a link to Shedd's Aquarium research paper. It has lot's of info about tank size, breeding requirements and stuff specific to each species:
Seahorse Husbandry in Public Aquariums

Bob Burhans was a speaker at our club last year. I got to pick him up from the airport and taxi him around! Of course, I brought him to my house! He is the Curator at Scripps Aquarium in San Diego and very knowledgable. Here's his research paper:
Scripps Aquarium Pipefish and Seahorse Husbandry & Propagation

I found the ultimate ID guide at Project Seahorse. You have to go to "about Seahorses" to get there. Sorry I can't get it to link direct to the ID guide!
Project Seahorse ID Guide

Here's Marc Levenson's Website. He has a ton of great info. I really appreciate his photography skills!
Take Great Pictures

[Seahorsewisprer]

Pipefish

Thanks, Veganman!

[flashmc]

ID Guide

[Samala]

Where to get SH online

I personally, and most people here, will heavily advocate getting any seahorse species from a breeder, someone who raises them in captivity (captive bred = CB) and trains them to frozen mysis (for the larger species). The positives of this are healthier horses, horses that eat much more convenient foods and go through the least amount of stress in getting to your home. Plus, you arent taking any animals from the wild (WC) and being apart of the deplorable trade in seahorses that exists world wide. For more info on the conservation aspect of seahorses visit Project Seahorses' website.

Live Aquaria aka Etropicals
Seahorse Source Run by a fellow RC member!
Ocean Rider
South Australian Seahorse Marine Services The farm for all you lucky Aussies
Dr Mac's - occassionally has CB
Sach's System Aquaculture Occassionally carries CB H. erectus and always has goodies to feed your SH live food if you go that route.

Private breeders sometimes come out of the woodwork here on RC and on the two seahorse sites, check out the 'for sale' sections of the boards. The most commonly available species privately bred will be erectus and reidi, sometimes kuda, barbouri or whitei but rarely. We also have a resident capensis expert here on the boards, if you search you'll find her.

Now, the caveat here is that I have used very few of these breeders. They are posted just to give you a good starting point in your quest for SH. If you have feedback for these vendors, please post it in a new thread just to try to keep this FAQ clean. Thanks!

[Morgandy]

Great thread idea Aerosmith!

Btw Sarah, your site is great. I just did a quick look, and am going to enjoy it for a long time to come.

I was laughing at the 'lack of sweet tongue' research on cats the other day when that news came out. I see you have a link about it. I had at the time I read it wanted to ask someone why then does my cat attack my tea cup loaded with sugar everytime I put it down!?

[Seahorsewisprer]

Thank Fredfish for this cool site. Not only does it have info on seahorses, but I found a snout load of information on my sea equines tankmates! And, that was just the sea slug page!


Egde of Reef.com

[Seahorsewisprer]

We discuss nutrition a lot here so here is a thread with quite a few different options...

Nutrition

[graveyardworm]

I was just doing some searching and there seems to be some good info here http://www.seahorses.de/index.htm

[LisaD]

The site has beautiful pictures, but has not been updated in a long time, and I'm not sure how detailed/up to date/useful the information is. Either way, it is a truly inspiring site, the images are just gorgeous! I'd love to hear more from the originator of the site.

[Samala]

Another source for CB Seahorses!

Draco Marine offering erectus, kuda, and reidi to start. Based in the Inner Harbor in Maryland. Dr. Mac's is currently offering stock from Draco Marine.

[Seahorsewisprer]

Here's something from our own Greenighs! Strong work, Clare!

Identifying Seahorse Gender

[Randall_James]

The Ocean Rider link is dead and the Seahorse.com that replaced it is about 95% 404 Page not found, is there another site similar?

[LisaD]

do you mean another commercial seahorse site, or a hobby site devoted to seahorses?

there are several reputable sources of captive bred seahorses we could direct you to, and there are a number of good hobby sites and newsgroups devoted to seahorses. Just do a search on google of "seahorse care" or something.

[Seahorsewisprer]

Ocean Riders site, Seahorse.com, works for me. Maybe it was just being tinkered with when you were looking for it?

[Seahorsewisprer]

Lisa, are there any good research articles on your site? Would you mind taking a sec to link us up?

We really could use one about pouch flushing!

[LisaD]

article on pouch evacuation for male seahorses by Tamara Weiss

This is not a pouch flush article. Pouch flushes are normally done with a catheter and dissolved Diamox. Pouch evacuation is normally the first treatment for air in the pouch. A chronic condition usually calls for an evacuation. I will see if I can find a decent article to link.

[Seahorsewisprer]

Thanks, Lisa! Our sticky is becoming very complete!

Anything else research wise is really helpful. RC people want knowledge!

[LisaD]

pouch flush instructions from oceanrider web site

I found these on ORs site, seahorse.com. I have not done this procedure, so cannot vouch for the instructions. any comments from experienced pouch flushers?

[graveyardworm]

Read the User Agreement, and if you still have any questions ask them in the Feedback and questions forum.

[Samala]

A great general article on seahorse care and potential tankmates, an oldy but a goody:

Saddle Up Cowboy!: The genus Hippocampus

>Sarah

[ReticentRegret]

how does one go about obtaining a seadrgon though? i mean besides the whole permit thing?

[graveyardworm]

To the best of my knowledge seadragons are protected and off limits. Atleast as far as hobbyists are concerned.