Seahorses Dieing - ICP results

[DarthChaos]

Good Day,

Posting on behalf of a friend....

She's tried her hand a few times at seahorses (hippocampus erectus) - and at around the 6 mths mark, the pony mysteriously stop eating and die.

She's running a clean tank - regular WCs, UV, using Vita-Chem....for vitamins. What we can't figure out what, is why these fish keep dieing.

Tank is stocked with some safe co-inhabitants, that are doing fine. No issues at all. Peaceful tank.

I suggested ICP - to see if something is leeching into water or something, but I'm kinda lost when reading these tests. No idea what I'm looking at or for.

Any ideas?

 

[Doctorgori]

just one input…
what’s the water temperature with that UV running?

I’m not sure in what the actual cause of death might be but I keep seahorses and usually the COD is vibrio or a bacterial infection … warm water temperatures create a favorable environment for bacterial infections I’m told even for tropical species…
Whatever the cause, keeping temperatures under mid 70s and clean water helps with mortality

 

[fishguy242]

@vlangel @SeahorseKeeper

 

[minorhero]

Good temperature should be 68 to 72. Feeding 2-4 times a day if that is helpful.

 

[vetteguy53081]

They don’t tolerate nitrate well as well as too much flow and temperature
Is there any tail rot?
Are there fish in the tank outcompeting them for food?
What is salinity?
What test kits are you using?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Good Day,

Posting on behalf of a friend....

She's tried her hand a few times at seahorses (hippocampus erectus) - and at around the 6 mths mark, the pony mysteriously stop eating and die.

She's running a clean tank - regular WCs, UV, using Vita-Chem....for vitamins. What we can't figure out what, is why these fish keep dieing.

Tank is stocked with some safe co-inhabitants, that are doing fine. No issues at all. Peaceful tank.

I suggested ICP - to see if something is leeching into water or something, but I'm kinda lost when reading these tests. No idea what I'm looking at or for.

Any ideas?

I doubt that the answer will lay with the ICP results - the other animals are doing well, so it isn't an acute problem, and the seahorses living for a few months typically means nutritional issues or as @Doctorgori said, a bacterial issue. One common issue with seahorses is the bacteria Mycobacterium. It is a tough one because it is internal, you cannot diagnosis from just looking at the fish (requires cultures) yet it is very common in older seahorses and the bacteria itself can be found in virtually every aquarium. There is no treatment for it. The only way to control it is to provide the seahorses with the best possible diet and tank conditions.

Jay

 

[DarthChaos]

just one input…
what’s the water temperature with that UV running?

I’m not sure in what the actual cause of death might be but I keep seahorses and usually the COD is vibrio or a bacterial infection … warm water temperatures create a favorable environment for bacterial infections I’m told even for tropical species…
Whatever the cause, keeping temperatures under mid 70s and clean water helps with mortality

Great points.

I'm only the middle man...lol. I have 4 of my own ponies - almost a year now, and keep the water as best I can.

Even with competition in my tank (wrasse, jawfish, pipefish) - my 4 girls thrive.

I keep my water right around 72 - feed often, with selcon and have honestly had my NO3 well over 50 - with no issues at all.

From what I gather....she runs a tighter ship than I do, so we are baffled as to what the heck is going on.

ICP test was kind of a "hail mary" - just stumped. Because it continues.....theres literally a reason, we just can sort out what.

 

[DarthChaos]

Her response to questions....

Personally....I'm leaning towards the Green Machine UV - not cutting it. Clearly.....something is causing issues, in the water column.

 

[Doctorgori]

I owned one of those UV Green machines to raise seahorse fry, it mostly just heated the water I think