New to horses, build underway....

[YLChik]

Originally Posted by ckusnierek

I have neosporen like i've read about. what else do I need? are they just preventative or as needed meds?

You will need to deworm and treat for disease while they are in QT for those 4-6 weeks I suggested. Those will be NEEDED.

Here is on deworming
http://forum.seahorse.org/index.php?showtopic=38334:

Here is on QTing newly aquired wild caught - which I am near certain yours are.
http://forum.seahorse.org/index.php?showtopic=6097

plus at the first signs of disease you are going to want those meds asap - so I would stock up now.


a common list of dieases so you can identify themhttp://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/diseaseguide.shtml

[ckusnierek]

Thanks Amy, I usually do plenty of research before buying any livestock and thought I had with the horses and pipe fish. I guess I was not reading the right stuff untill it was too late.

I also assumed that they were CB since that is how they are being sold. I never planned on keeping WC horses. I did just get a call from the seller telling me thay had just droped them off at fedex.

I do have plenty of frozen mysis, selcon, and live pods.

Your in Illinois right? I'm in Indiana, maybe you can ceom over and help me J/K

I'm going to go do some reading now...

[YLChik]

Chris,

I know what you mean. I read for 9 months or more before I even got my tank up - and I made sooo many mistakes that i am now poniless. I miss them very much. I just want to give you the best shot I can with what I have learned. They are such wonderful creatures!

Can the place you bought them from tell you WHERE they were captive breed? A lot of times they call et penned captive breed - but they have the same issues as wildcaught since they were raised in the ocean and not in tanks - I guess what people need to ask for is TANK breed and then NOT put in a tank with wild caught.

[ckusnierek]

Ya know I was scared about seahorses untill I talked to a guy at a VERY reputable LFF in Lansing, Mi. He told me that seahorses were a peice of cake and that they were no harder than keeping a reef tank!

You live, you learn, I just hope that I do not learn and the expence of the seahorses. NO ONE areound me keeps them so I have no help if I get into trouble.

I did run to wally world and got a brand new 10g QT and a small filter, top etc. I have the basics. I will read about all the med and IDing problems.

[YLChik]

Chris,

I think they can be easy to keep - but like the rest of this hobby the learning curve is steep!

your gonna do great and i will help where I can

I can tell ya now tank temp VERY VERY VERY ULTRA important to keep under 74

[ckusnierek]

OK heres the plan:
I got a new QT and plan a LONG QT 4-6 weeks I actually went out and got a whole 10g setup with stand and all for the QT.

Got the Brine cooking right now should be ready thursday night / friday morning if they wont eat the frozen mysis. I also got some selcon to gut load the brine or mysis. I'll wait a few days before any medication to let them acclimate to the new enviroment. I will follow the deworming from seahorse.org

I will use 10g from the reef for the qt with a 2-3g WC weekly. BB with a few peices of LR and macro for hitching.

The ponies are in the air right now I will keep you updated.

[YLChik]

now THAT sounds like a plan way to go!

[ckusnierek]

USPS Knocked on the door at 9:30 this AM. there were only in transit for under 18 hours

There look GREAT!!!! Smaller than I expected. but even in bags great color. There floating right now and I will start a drip soon.

Live bring should be ready tonnight and I will also try some frozen mysid after a few hours. I hope they eat there were sold as CB "eating frozen mysid"

This guy must be a distributor. the bags are closed with metal crimps I've never seen a lfs use them only distributors...


BTW I also got two pipefish and a "Ultra" Crocea

[YLChik]

PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!



I am so excited for you

[ckusnierek]

I am actually playing hookie from work today because of these little guys!

[ckusnierek]

pics after lunch. the tank hood that came with the 10g has only incandescent bulbs I'm ordering 2 20W mini PC's from PA right now...

[ckusnierek]

They are still dripping but I thought I would give it a try and the gobbbled up the mysid!!!

Does this mean they are CB????

I will still treat them and WC and QT and Medicate accordingly....

[YLChik]

not necessarily a sign they are cb but a GOOD sign a very good sign indeed!

[ckusnierek]

Actually I called the guy I ordered them from and asked if they were Tank breed or Pen raised and he GARUENTEED me they were tank breed and he personally knows the breeder he said if I wanted to he would sen pics of the breeding facility...

[YLChik]

PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is fantastic news!!!!