seahorse bubble

[whimmy]

I have had a Seahorse only tank up and running for almost 3 years now and have yet to lose any.... My seahorses have had countless amounts of babies but the casualty rate on those is high. My question is , is that I have one male seahorse that had babies over 2 months ago, but can not seem to lose the bubble in his tummy from where the babies were. At times he ends up floating upside down across the tank if he goes after a ghost shrimp and becomes unhitched......does anyone have any suggestions what I can do? I have tried all the methods listed on Seahorse.org , but have had no luck....any help would be greatly appreciated.

[dakar]

Don't have an answer for you on this one... we are just getting our pony corral set up and ready to start populating now.

But Welcome Aboard! Glad to have you with us!!

[Reptoreef]

IMO, if you've done as suggested, remain patient. He's eating and healthy, right? Hopefully, your answer is time. BTW, welcome to CR!!!

Repto

[ramoth41]

IIt took me a while to find but I knew I had read how to help your seahorse some where!! You say you tryed this? mmmm will look for more info......
http://www.seahorse.org/library/arti...ouchevac.shtml


sarah

[JustDavidP]

Heya... are you sure you have a problem there?

Some males (especially Erectus and Reidi) keep a full looking pouch even after birthing. You would know your ponies better than I. So..... If it is gas bubbles, you will have to use the method of expelling the air with pressure or if all else fails, a fine tube. I've used plastic needles used for filling balls etc. with a pump. DO NOT USE A METALIC ONE. Other times, you can find capilary tubing which works fine too. DO NOT USE THIN GLASS CAPILLARY TUBES.

Follow the directions above from the ORG (Thanks Sarah). You may be suprised how easy it is. Especially if you've known the stallion...and he's known you..for some time. In one intance, when I was helping a friend, he merely pushed on the brood pouch to open the slit and it expelled the gasses on its own.

Good luck..and keep us posted.

Dave

[whimmy]

Thank you all for the suggestions, I have tried this method with him and it worked for a short period then the bubble came back...it is located quite low on his tummy.....if he un-hitches he floats upside down across the tank...if he cant get the ghost shrimp I put him he lets me hold him and guide him around the tank so he can eat........I have thought about putting him in a deeper tank because some people say the pressure from the deeper water prevents this from happening. .......I just don't want to lose him.....i am scared every morning when I get up that I will find him no longer with me. ......

[JustDavidP]

Has he always had bouyancy problems? This is common with SHs if they do not have a good opportunity to fill their swim bladder after birth. This is why seahorse fry, after birth, float to the top of the water. They have the chance to feed on the planktonic film that is found in the oceans (and in some of our systems) and fill their swim bladder.

If this is new, I'd suggest you visit the seahorse.org forums. There is a study going on where folks are dealing with the same problems. I also believe there is a similar thread/study at http://www.syngnathid.org/

Best of luck.

Dave

[zoo-a-holic]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#i heard that they can swallow air in transport and die, is this true or is someone just messin with me???#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[JustDavidP]

Seahorses can have many differing problems associated with "air or
gas". They CAN get gasses trapped in their pouch and have
bouyancy problems. They can also get gas bubble disease. So, in a
nutshell, yes, they can have air problems.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#
#ed_op#br#ed_cl#
NOW, can they die from gulping air? Sure... all fish could.
Is it likely that they will swallow THAT MUCH air in transport.
Not likely. They'd need to be "out of water" for that to
happen. I'm sure that they can get 'ill' from having ingested
air, but I'm not sure if they are any more succeptible to dying that
way as a clown fish would be.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#
#ed_op#br#ed_cl#

[dakar]

Hey David... LTNS... where you been hiding?