Forum Discussion... Sygnathid Medications

[Twitterbait]

So i have been looking around at getting some Horses going again and the question comes to mind, what medications can/do you use and for what.

Horses have many disease issues that are only present in the horse population and not anywhere else. What are the meds you use and what are you curing? Please also include non medicinal treatment for issues.

I would also like to see what things you look for in your horses that may show when they have issues.

[Sara7814]

i came across a site that recommened having some stuff on hand at all times. i can search for it again and post it here if you would like.

it would be nice to know what to have on hand and how to recongize some stuff

[YLChik]

are we still discussing... cause I would like t=to know what everyone thinks about this... the list over at several of teh seahorse sites is pretty freakin' long...
do we really need 15 different medications to keep horses healthy in our systems?

[pledosophy]

Diamox for GBD related issues. Sometimes needs to be used with an antibiotic which can be used at the same time. Needs to be ordered a head of time since it can takes weeks to have it shipped to you in the U.S. You need to get it from a Candadian supplier as it is not sold in the U.S. As far as I know this is the only illness that affects seahorses in our home aquariums that is not present in the wild.

Neo 3 Which is a combination of different sulpha's and neomyicin, designed for seahorses for bacterial infections. Best used in correlation with a hospital tank where the temp has been lowered to 69F or below to stop the growth rate of the bacteria. Most seahorse bacterial infections stem from vibrio, so far not much has been effective against myco. Has far as I know it is only availabe at aquabiotics.net and seahorsesource.com

Prazipro and Fenbendazole for parasite issues especialy when getting one of those TR seahorses from the ocean pens in Asia.

I normally keep Neo3 and Diamox on hand, other meds ordered if I know I'm getting some horses that have been exposed to parasites. I don't keep and have never used meds that help to treat problems caused by ammonia exposure since I cycle my tanks long before I ever get seahorses.

JMO

[jojon60]

I have had the same seahorse for 4 years now. I will never not have Diamox and neomyicin and triple sulfa on hand. When something happens it spreads fast. Any hope for saving them requires fast action. You don't have days to round up medicine. Hope that helps.

[YLChik]

yes actually quiet helpful!
Anybody else?!

[YLChik]

how long are these meds good for? is there a shelf life?

[pledosophy]

Most about 1 year.

[BCREEF]

Actually a lot of those meds have a longer shelf life than what they suggest. Years after their exp date they will become less affective but most don't generally 'go bad'. This info came from the head zoo vet and assisstant director at a world class zoo and a really smart guy so I believe him. I'm new to this site so I'm sorry if this is old news but the '05 Syngnathid Husbandry Manual has info on what treatments are being done in it plus a lot more. It is compiled from aquarists around the world and would be helpful to anyone keeping those crazy syngs. I am asssuming it is available for download somewhere but if not let me know and I'll try and find my copy somewhere and send it to whoever wants it.

And it is a good idea to have as many of the meds you can find and afford on hand because as many of you already know, seahorses need immediate treatment as soon as you see a problem and accurately diagnose it. More than pretty much any other marine animal because they are so easily stressed and will lose their appetite very quickly. And tube feeding or hand feeding a seahorse is not fun at all. Even CB specimens are succeptable, if not more, to many illnesses and diseases that are present in captive environments that may be introduced through live rock, sand, coral, macro, inverts, etc. so in short, especially with seahorses it is much better to be prepared for anything that may happen.

bc

[BCREEF]

Oh one more thing, I have been told by a credible seahorse breeder that formalin treatements will cause sterility in fish but I know of a couple public aquariums that have used it profalactically while raising fry and have not had problems with continued breeding from those specimens. Has anyone had experience one way or another or heard of this. I am wondering a) if it is true with seahorse, which logically it would be, and b) if it is true, if there is a therapuetic level that will not have this side affect. Personally I never liked to use formalin with seahorses but others have had good results with it.

[VWD]

I have to admit, when it comes to meds I have none on hand if I need them , I have never needed any in the past and have been keeping them for years, But the more I read and talk to people the more i relize I need to keep some, I have been adding seahorses to my tanks and want to insure that one of the new ones don't bring something in.

[jojon60]

Vince
you are so lucky with your seahorses. Any time we add something new to our tanks we take the risk of introducing something harmful. At the very least I would get some neomycin and triple sulfa. Seahorsesourse sells both. Diamox is a little harder to come by since its a prescription drug. My vet will write me a scrip for it. She came to my house to treat so its on file.

Jan

[VWD]

I think I will do So,

[JustDavidP]

I've only used Neo on one mare whose tail was cut from a LR slide. Other than that, I've used formalin in my grow out tanks when fry get the "itch", but even at that, it is not often.

Dave