Feeding Dwarf Seahorses

[germs101]

Does anyone know if you can feed Dwarf Seahorses blood worms (mosquito larvae)?

 

[vlangel]

Does anyone know if you can feed Dwarf Seahorses blood worms (mosquito larvae)?

I have never heard of any dwarf keepers using either one of those. I am guessing that is because seahorses all need a high content of omega fats in their diets which they get from eating crustaceans, like shrimp and copepods. Most dwarf keepers feed live baby brine shrimp but even that should be enriched with a supplement like Dan's Feed. And even then the keepers that have the most long term success still supplement with copepods and mysis larvae to keep their little ponies breeding which is usually an indication of overall health.

 

[germs101]

Ok. I really want to keep some, but I'm still not sure if the pod upkeep will be doable. I was trying to find an alternative ;) I'll just stick with trying to raise the pods and see if I am successful.

 

[vlangel]

That is probably an excellant way to tackle things. I know seahorse.org has information on raising and culturing pods if you want to look it up.

 

[Azox]

they wouldn't touch bloodworms - they are way too big for them. they would pick at the odd cyclopeeze, but really the only thing they will eat and thrive on is enriched live baby brine shrimp.

 

[bobman]

To keep them you will need to culture your own brine. Easy to do just u tube it.

 

[germs101]

What would you say is more difficult: raising Brine or lots of Copeopods? I already have a 265 and a 30 gallon reef, but keeping up on daily amounts of pods...

 

[bobman]

Well both of those tanks are said to be to big. I hear its recommended that no bigger than 5 gallons. However it is much much easier to raise baby brine shrimp than pods. Pods are easy as you don't really do anything to make them however I just don't see them produsing enough to keep dwarf sea horses alive long term. Baby brine on the otherhand all you need is a 2 liter soda bottle air stone and light with a jar of brine eggs. 1 tablespoon of eggs and in about 24 hours you have upwards of 250,000 baby brine shrimp. Just use a turkey baster to suck them up into it and put them in the tank. After a few day discard and repeat. Simple and fairly cheap and you are sure to have enough food at all times for the horses

 

[DeniseAndy]

Make sure to rinse the brine prior to feeding. It can wipe out your seahorses if not rinsed. I have a fellow reef keeper that had them and when he left, his wife just dumped the unrinsed in and he lost all of them. Again, this is not my experience, but do know most are rinsed with fed to horses.

 

[bobman]

Never heard of that but its a good idea none the less only question is how to you rinse baby brine with them being that small and not kill them

 

[bobman]

Nevermind I found it lol

http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/c123/is-there-way-store-live-baby-brine-shrimp-c122.html

 

[germs101]

My plan was to put them in the overflow area of the 265. It is about 10 gallons of space in each overflow. They would be totally seperate fom the reef but get the benefit of the stability of a large tank.

 

[bobman]

would be to much flow though they are not very good swimmers at all. And they most likely will end up being skimmer food

 

[germs101]

Well, that won't do!! I'll have to think on that. Maybe I can modify it somehow or only use one side and cap the other.

 

[DeniseAndy]

These guys are also very susceptible to bacteria infections. I would not keep in a reef even is separated. Go with a little 5 gallon instead.

 

[vlangel]

Yes, I second that they most likely will not live long term even if they are separated from the reef. They will either succumb to bacterial infection or hydroids or amphipods.