Pot-bellied seahorse

[jythong]

I just bought a pot-bellied seahorse from Coralfarm, captive bred and already feeding on frozen. It is now in my reef tank, feeding well on frozen mysis within 1 day, settled at a low flow zone and temp about 23-24 C. I know that these temperate seahorses prefer 18-20 C, according to literature, but I am just wondering if 23-24C will have any significant adverse effects on the seahorse.

Also I have probloems trying to determine the sex- any experts can help?

[Gouldian]

I just bought a pot-bellied seahorse from Coralfarm, captive bred and already feeding on frozen. It is now in my reef tank, feeding well on frozen mysis within 1 day, settled at a low flow zone and temp about 23-24 C. I know that these temperate seahorses prefer 18-20 C, according to literature, but I am just wondering if 23-24C will have any significant adverse effects on the seahorse.

Also I have probloems trying to determine the sex- any experts can help?

Hi Bro,

If I am not wrong, your is female as the male will have a huge stomach such as the image below (on the foreground is male, background is female).

Personally, I don't think they will be able to adopt to higher temperature as temperature will create stress and also increase the metabolic rate to a level they are not used to. I do know if a few who tried rearing them in higher temperature but failed.

HTH

[Gouldian]

Hi Bro,

If I am not wrong, your is female as the male will have a huge stomach such as the image below (on the foreground is male, background is female).

Personally, I don't think they will be able to adopt to higher temperature as temperature will create stress and also increase the metabolic rate to a level they are not used to. I do know if a few who tried rearing them in higher temperature but failed.

HTH

Bro, very sorry. On second look, I believe its a male will the stomach sunken. Females do not have the pouch opening and the head is slightly different.

[jythong]

Bro, thanks for the advice. It does have a hearty appetite though...feeding several times a day. I actually handfeed it, using a pair of long tweezers, quite satisfying to watch it gobble down the frozen mysis, frozen brine shrimp and live brine shrimps as well.

[Gouldian]

Bro, thanks for the advice. It does have a hearty appetite though...feeding several times a day. I actually handfeed it, using a pair of long tweezers, quite satisfying to watch it gobble down the frozen mysis, frozen brine shrimp and live brine shrimps as well.

Do let us know your progress, I would love to see a record of potbelly seahorse in tropical temperature.

[jythong]

I have always hesitated to get a seahorse here as almost all are (I believe) wild caught.

Hence I was pleasantly surprised by the captive bred seahorses at the LFS: the whole gang of them actually surged forwards onto the glass towards you as you stand in front of the tank, asking to be fed. I was so impressed. I am thinking of getting a mate for it, if it does well after a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, the temp will be as cool as it can get, hope my corals don't get wiped out though....

[Gouldian]

I have always hesitated to get a seahorse here as almost all are (I believe) wild caught.

Hence I was pleasantly surprised by the captive bred seahorses at the LFS: the whole gang of them actually surged forwards onto the glass towards you as you stand in front of the tank, asking to be fed. I was so impressed. I am thinking of getting a mate for it, if it does well after a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, the temp will be as cool as it can get, hope my corals don't get wiped out though....

Oic... Thanks for the thoughtfulness in supporting captive bred threatened livestocks.

[LoReNsIa]

If i don rmb wrongly, those pot belly that coral farm are selling already got aclimatise to the degree u are tuning to.

Somemore it's captive breed, i believe, they are able to get use to it more easier? Oh ya, i also rmb that one of the reefer use to keep it at 23-24degree for pot belly to. Sorry to interupt.

Cheers,

Lorenzo.

[jythong]

If i don rmb wrongly, those pot belly that coral farm are selling already got aclimatise to the degree u are tuning to.

Somemore it's captive breed, i believe, they are able to get use to it more easier? Oh ya, i also rmb that one of the reefer use to keep it at 23-24degree for pot belly to. Sorry to interupt.

Cheers,

Lorenzo.

I don't mind getting a special tank and chiller to drop it to 18C though, but it will take some time. CF told me that the seahorses had been there for 1/2 mth, so not very sure about the long term survival of this seahorse here.

[Gouldian]

If i don rmb wrongly, those pot belly that coral farm are selling already got aclimatise to the degree u are tuning to.

Somemore it's captive breed, i believe, they are able to get use to it more easier? Oh ya, i also rmb that one of the reefer use to keep it at 23-24degree for pot belly to. Sorry to interupt.

Cheers,

Lorenzo.

Wow that good news, I learn something new today!

Thanks Lorenzo... maybe we should meet up one day for coffee.

[RockyBoy]

Wow that good news, I learn something new today!

Thanks Lorenzo... maybe we should meet up one day for coffee.

Me too!

[LoReNsIa]

Haha. Ya joseph. We should meet up real soon. Sorry that day at drato house never talk much with u. Haas.

Already lost touch with sea horse for 3years. Must ask terryz along. He's more knowledgeable in all this sea horse den me. =D no prob bro rocky. We shall have a meet ur soon.

[jythong]

This seahorse learns fast: already starting to eat from a plastic cup sunk in the sand.

[Gouldian]

This seahorse learns fast: already starting to eat from a plastic cup sunk in the sand.

Great, I still can remember those days when I tried to get seahorses to be interested in dead food.

[Gouldian]

Haha. Ya joseph. We should meet up real soon. Sorry that day at drato house never talk much with u. Haas.

Already lost touch with sea horse for 3years. Must ask terryz along. He's more knowledgeable in all this sea horse den me. =D no prob bro rocky. We shall have a meet ur soon.

Ya, we should meet soon..

[jythong]

Feeding from a plastic cup; so much less uneaten food with this technique. I find that scattering mysis around result in too much uneaten food.

[jythong]

It also relishes Henry's gourmet food!