Seahorses

[gparr]

A few days ago I got the opportunity to photograph a fellow hobbyist's (her online name is Peka) seahorse collection and see her efforts to raise offspring. She's working hard at it and making progress.

In her main tank she has six Brazilian seahorses. I only got to see three. They seemed to be shy around strangers and I don't think they much cared for my flash. She also has a tank of dwarf seahorses. These little guys are about an inch long and very active. Two of the males were actively courting a female. Those little guys are real scrappers.

Here are shots of three of the Brazilians and one of the dwarfs. There are a couple of additional shots in the Animals gallery of my website. An interesting photographic challenge because of their body length and the angles they present. Shots aren't as sharp as I'd like, but they'll do. Looking forward to returning for better shots.

Gary

#1 Brazilian Seahorse (Hippocampus reidi)

#2 Brazilian Seahorse (Hippocampus reidi)

#3 Brazilian Seahorse (Hippocampus reidi)

Dwarf Seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae)

 

[McD57]

very nice! great pics

 

[SaraB]

Great photos Gary!

 

[Sooner Reefer]

Awesome pics!

 

[Mr.Firemouth]

Cool to see she has some dwarfs!
They require a constant supply of baby brine shrimp. It has been awhile since I saw some! Tiny aren't they?

 

[Emc]

Very nice. I didn't know anyone was sucessfully breeding and raising reidi.

 

[gparr]

She has kept them alive for six weeks or so. She said she couldn't be confident they'll make it until they reach four to five months. She's trying though and the group of fry she has have several healthy ones that are eating mysis with enthusiasm.
Gary

 

[gparr]

Here's a bad photo of a reidi fry, at about six weeks.

 

[Kate]

Those are great shots! I started out with dwarf seahorses when I was a teen. Back then, I didn't know any better, and ordered them from a magazine! I got a pregnant male, and a female, a starfish, hermit crab, and a pipefish? The long fish that live with seahorses, anyway, I had them for quite a long time, and the male gave birth, and I think the starfish ended up killing all of them eventually! They would eat brine shrimp, that you would put right into the tank, the eggs I mean! Every day, they would hatch, and the seahorses would eat them. I loved that tank! It was twenty gallons! I think I had the parents for almost a year! That was a long time, for not really knowing how to take care of them properly!

 

[Poseidon]

Good stuff Gary, these guys must be VERY tough to get pictures of. I imagine that the lighting is not the same as a reef tank, making flash mandatory, and then as you mentioned their body shape and swimming style make for odd angles. Great work!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Wow amazing shots bro! Looks like I got a new pic or two for the home page.

 

[gparr]

Poseidon, exactly what I experienced and flash is unavoidable. I'm going back soon with a slightly different approach to see if i can get better results.
Gary

 

[gparr]

Wow amazing shots bro! Looks like I got a new pic or two for the home page.

Help yourself.
Gary

 

[Emc]

She has kept them alive for six weeks or so. She said she couldn't be confident they'll make it until they reach four to five months. She's trying though and the group of fry she has have several healthy ones that are eating mysis with enthusiasm.
Gary

It's been a couple of years since I've kept sea horses but from what I remember keeping reidi fry alive this long is a serious accomplishment. It's pretty cool that your helping to document it.

 

[gparr]

It's been a couple of years since I've kept sea horses but from what I remember keeping reidi fry alive this long is a serious accomplishment. It's pretty cool that your helping to document it.

That's what I understand from Beth. She didn't really want to discuss it for fear it would jinx her. She's on a mission and I'm confident she'll get there.
Gary