What should I do?

[LadyWizard]

I recently lost a male seahorse and his mate will not eat. Tank is running a bit warm but all she's doing is staring at the snails. I'm feeding her the frozen shrimp that the store we bought her from feeds her. Any help would be appreciated. Would getting a new male help? She was only mated for about 3 weeks and seems he had some skin disease that the slight raise in temperature caused to kill him.

[YLChik]

can you describe what you see going on in the skin - or better yet a picture.

Have you gotten your temp down again?

How long have you had them and what are they living in?

Was she eating before the male died

Do you have meds?

Sorry to ask all the questions, but I want to get you help asap.

[LadyWizard]

Originally Posted by YLChik

can you describe what you see going on in the skin - or better yet a picture.

On the male his skin was flaking then he died within 4 hours

Have you gotten your temp down again?
temp is back to 76 from 82

How long have you had them and what are they living in?
2 months and she is living in a 55 gallon with a goby and a scooter. the 55 gallon has been stable for over 2 years of salt water operation.

Was she eating before the male died
she was eating the frozen myosis shrimp before he died

Do you have meds?

no because this just all started showing in past week

Sorry to ask all the questions, but I want to get you help asap.

[YLChik]

yikes as you already know high temps are so not good... can you get it down another 2 degrees to 74 - it's really the optimum for ponies because the bacteria replication is so much slower....

Do you have any access to live brine? I would feed try that if you can't get her to eat soon.

Any idea what the skin issue was? Can you describe more of what you saw?

[LadyWizard]

yikes as you already know high temps are so not good... can you get it down another 2 degrees to 74 - it's really the optimum for ponies because the bacteria replication is so much slower....

All we can do is remove the heater since house air temp goes from 77 on up we're on evap cooler in AZ heat

Do you have any access to live brine? I would feed try that if you can't get her to eat soon.
We will be able to try if she can hold on one more hour but not looking so good she isn't even really moving for past hour now. She just wrapped around piece of coral and is still breathing but that's it.

Any idea what the skin issue was? Can you describe more of what you saw?
From what Mom was reading it was a parasite that becomes more noticeable if the tank gets warmer.

We're trying. Mom is really frustrated since the person who bought the seahorses is off doing his own thing(we're only babysitting since he removed our nice stable marine fish that we had in for the sea horses 2 months ago) Any information on sea horses would be appreciated since knowing him we're going to give sea horses another go and he has a habit of not really fully researching

[YLChik]

I am not all that great with diagnosis and diseases-

My best guess is Vibro but that is all it is, a best guess...
While I can help you with some of the basics I suggest you get acquainted with seahorse.org if you are going to try them again.

I also STRONGLY suggest that you BEG your pony buyer to hold off until you can get the tank ready for the ponies ( ie keeping water steady at 74) and get some meds to deal with these kinds of things.

- much better at set up and things to avoid - seeing as I made all the regular mistakes

[YLChik]

do you have a hospital tank you can treat her in?

Also I would not buy another mate until you are fairly certain what is making your horses sick.

Can you give me a run down of tank parameters please. Thanks

[YLChik]

here is some good info on horse disease

http://www.seahorse.org/library/arti...aseguide.shtml

and a picture id thread
http://www.seahorse.org/library/arti...aseguide.shtml

[Loverotties]

You really need to keep the tank COOL!

[YLChik]

here is a good "starter guide" as well
http://www.seahorse.org/library/arti.../careguide.pdf

[LadyWizard]

She appears to have perked up after we unplugged the heater. Thank you so much turns out gal that dipped and was giving us information on seahorses the first time had no clue what she was talking about(she had told us 76 was the optimal temperature for one thing). She is eating again on the frozen not enough speed yet I guess for the live. Not 100% sure on tank setup since was originally brother's tank and he's the one that keeps dragging home(I'm sure everyone knows how that goes)

[Dragonist]

Originally Posted by Loverotties

You really need to keep the tank COOL!

I lol everytime I see your post. They are always very short and sweet!

[YLChik]

Originally Posted by LadyWizard

She appears to have perked up after we unplugged the heater. Thank you so much turns out gal that dipped and was giving us information on seahorses the first time had no clue what she was talking about(she had told us 76 was the optimal temperature for one thing). She is eating again on the frozen not enough speed yet I guess for the live. Not 100% sure on tank setup since was originally brother's tank and he's the one that keeps dragging home(I'm sure everyone knows how that goes)

Your welcome, I am glad I could help. I'm glad that she is eating again. I would keep a very close eye on her and get the meds that are recommended for pony keepers

triple sulfa and diamox at the very least.

[cutietwo]

Maybe you should invest in a cooler?...or is it called a chiller? lol.