ID my rescues please

SeymourDuncan · Sep 16, 2013

A friend rescued a tank that leaked today and left me with these bad boys.
They are all 3 in a 12g by them self. No powerhead. Tomorrow I'm buying some type of stick or algae for them to latch onto.
2 stay black, but get light...one stays more light orangey color.

This is the lighter one.

This is the dark one in dark mode (I have 2 identical)

This is one of the dark ones in light mode.

They are mysis trained and I've got a ton so they will be well fed. Plus the 12g has tons of pods.

A name would rock so I can give these guys the ultimate home!
Thanks!

Connie · Sep 16, 2013

Lucky you! I'm glad they were rescued and will now have a perfect home.

Mike J. · Sep 16, 2013

Seymour, try this site:

Seahorse Information

SeymourDuncan · Sep 16, 2013

Awesome! Thanks!

SeymourDuncan · Sep 16, 2013

H. reidi sound right?

SeahorseKeeper · Sep 16, 2013

The banding of the first and third leads me to believe h. reidi. The second I'm not so sure about. I'm kinda torn on that one.

SeymourDuncan · Sep 17, 2013

I know that's the only reason I posted it haha, I'm usually really good at figuring out these types of things but seahorses are new for me. They seem pretty energetic! The smallest one loves to play in the return flow...I can tell he does it on purpose, he has great control and is pretty fast. (For a seahorse). The other 2 hang out latched onto eachother. I was thinkin of fabricating a fake gorg out of some Rigid airline tubing until I found a cool macro

SeymourDuncan · Sep 17, 2013

I read a thing about these guys in reef tanks and how they actually benefit from areas of current, as long as they have a large area of slower flow and places to latch along with protected powerheads. My fish in the 90 are a little too aggressive though, just thought it was interesting since the majority of information tells you they cannot swim in that type of environment.

Eienna · Sep 17, 2013

How about this stuff?

They even recommend it specifically for seahorses.

http://www.reefs2go.com/product/MAC-REDTREEGRAC-SMAL/Red-Tree-Gracilaria-Gracilaria-sp.html

New things are being learned every day. It wasn't that long ago that acropora was 'impossible.'

SeymourDuncan · Sep 17, 2013

I have had that stuff before and it never rooted for some reason. I just flopped a Kenya tree into the tank. Maybe in a month it will be large enough for them to latch on. Caulerpa is about the only local rooting algae around here and id rather not have to deal with that stuff.
I also have a powerhead in the tank that is not on but seems to keep them from accidentally getting overflowed. Its not dangerous in the filtration chamber, just hard to stick my hand in the catch accidental fish. I also put a sort of plastic "fence" around it as well.

So far they are really cool and seem fairly happy. Its crazy watchin their cord change as they move over different objects

Eienna · Sep 17, 2013

I got a really cool video of seahorses at the Sea Life Aquarium (next to Legoland.) I'll have to get it uploaded soon and show you.

SeymourDuncan · Sep 17, 2013

Orally do! If I can make my reef safe for seahorses I would gladly redesign my 90. They are beyond amazing!!

Eienna · Sep 17, 2013

SeymourDuncan said:
Orally do! If I can make my reef safe for seahorses I would gladly redesign my 90. They are beyond amazing!!

They are that! I loved watching them attack live shrimp - SLURP!...didn't get that on video, too busy gawking, lol.

SeymourDuncan · Sep 17, 2013

Mine are now named!
DumDum- who won't stop purposely flopping into the overflow, thus causing me to add a protective grille. (No teeth before, and powerhead is off)

Tornado-named after Zorro's horse because he likes to ride the waves of the return all day.

Seabiscuit- why not? He chills out on the rocks upside down and eats pods constantly.

Believe it or not! This damsel who I can catch at any time is living in peace with the sea horses. He sleeps next to them, eats with them, and I even witnessed him use his fin to blow off some crud that landed on one's back!

SeahorseKeeper · Sep 17, 2013

They look great!! I agree with what you said about seahorses and flow: they love it. I have an MP 10 in my seahorse tank to help with the flow and my seahorse seems to "play" in it. I also run open ended airline tubing and they would swim in and out of the bubbles or just hitch where the bubbles are to get a massage. Word of advice about power heads: make sure they are covered to prevent injuries. Seahorses will try to hitch on them even if you think they can't.

Eienna · Sep 17, 2013

Very cool

SeymourDuncan · Sep 17, 2013

Mine hitches on the powerhead, but its not plugged in. I'm constructing a more appealing overflow before I remove it.

Eienna · Sep 18, 2013

I just dreamt that I raised a teeny-tiny baby seahorse.

SeymourDuncan · Sep 18, 2013

Was it the kind of dream where you had control? I would shrink down and ride the seahorse if I could

Eienna · Sep 18, 2013

I never have that kind of control even when I know I'm dreaming. Sometimes I can't even stand up or see straight.

I dreamt I was at a public aquarium-type deal and they were having an event where they'd teach you to hatch out a seahorse...yeah, I know, a little odd....but mine had trouble and I had to blow in its nose from time to time. It slowly got stronger, though, and when it finally hitched onto my finger I knew it would be fine.