Are my Seahorses Dancing?
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novahobbies
Well-Known Member
ROTFL I *told* you that you were gonna be in trouble! The top two pictures especially look like advanced courting. I can't tell from the pics (first pic is too blurry, and the pouch is hidden in the rest of the pics) but I don't think the male is flushing his pouch. That's usually a sign that the male is ready to take eggs; he fills his pouch with seawater to show his lady that he's ready.
Flower, this is really just a matter of time. It's going to happen. What you should probably do now is decide if you want to try and raise the kiddies, or if you're just not ready you should be prepared to euthanize the fry or use them as fish food. A better option (if you're not ready, that is...) would be to call your friend and see if she's ready to handle a new load of babies...but YOU will still need to have a barebottom tank and some live BBS ready for the first couple meals until your friend gets there. Does your LFS sell decapped brine eggs? If not you can get them from SHSource. I wish SWF sold them!
Flower, this is really just a matter of time. It's going to happen. What you should probably do now is decide if you want to try and raise the kiddies, or if you're just not ready you should be prepared to euthanize the fry or use them as fish food. A better option (if you're not ready, that is...) would be to call your friend and see if she's ready to handle a new load of babies...but YOU will still need to have a barebottom tank and some live BBS ready for the first couple meals until your friend gets there. Does your LFS sell decapped brine eggs? If not you can get them from SHSource. I wish SWF sold them!
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///forum/thread/384788/are-my-seahorses-dancing#post_3372225
ROTFL I *told* you that you were gonna be in trouble! The top two pictures especially look like advanced courting. I can't tell from the pics (first pic is too blurry, and the pouch is hidden in the rest of the pics) but I don't think the male is flushing his pouch. That's usually a sign that the male is ready to take eggs; he fills his pouch with seawater to show his lady that he's ready.
Flower, this is really just a matter of time. It's going to happen. What you should probably do now is decide if you want to try and raise the kiddies, or if you're just not ready you should be prepared to euthanize the fry or use them as fish food. A better option (if you're not ready, that is...) would be to call your friend and see if she's ready to handle a new load of babies...but YOU will still need to have a barebottom tank and some live BBS ready for the first couple meals until your friend gets there. Does your LFS sell decapped brine eggs? If not you can get them from SHSource. I wish SWF sold them!
Peka only lives an hour away. But on the Seahorse.org site, she has her hands full with a sick horse. She hasn't answered my e-mail.
If you had any idea how much I love seahorses you would understand my distress. I have no problem leaving clown fish eggs for fish food in the 90g...but little cute adorable fully developed baby seahorses...I'm gonna have a hard time.
I am off work and have no idea if or when I will be back on my feet. I will get sick benefits, but I have no idea how much, and rent and bills come first. I fear it might be just half my pay...that creates a real hardship just for life’s needs...let alone fish tank wants.
TQ said something about a plastic fish bowel and mesh...so I guess I need to figure out how to do that and prepare to kill a bunch of tiny cute babies. OR.... will the seahorses eat the babies? Can I just let nature take its course? Must I really collect them to feed to the 90g carnivores?
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///forum/thread/384788/are-my-seahorses-dancing#post_3372225
ROTFL I *told* you that you were gonna be in trouble! The top two pictures especially look like advanced courting. I can't tell from the pics (first pic is too blurry, and the pouch is hidden in the rest of the pics) but I don't think the male is flushing his pouch. That's usually a sign that the male is ready to take eggs; he fills his pouch with seawater to show his lady that he's ready.
Flower, this is really just a matter of time. It's going to happen. What you should probably do now is decide if you want to try and raise the kiddies, or if you're just not ready you should be prepared to euthanize the fry or use them as fish food. A better option (if you're not ready, that is...) would be to call your friend and see if she's ready to handle a new load of babies...but YOU will still need to have a barebottom tank and some live BBS ready for the first couple meals until your friend gets there. Does your LFS sell decapped brine eggs? If not you can get them from SHSource. I wish SWF sold them!
Peka only lives an hour away. But on the Seahorse.org site, she has her hands full with a sick horse. She hasn't answered my e-mail.
If you had any idea how much I love seahorses you would understand my distress. I have no problem leaving clown fish eggs for fish food in the 90g...but little cute adorable fully developed baby seahorses...I'm gonna have a hard time.
I am off work and have no idea if or when I will be back on my feet. I will get sick benefits, but I have no idea how much, and rent and bills come first. I fear it might be just half my pay...that creates a real hardship just for life’s needs...let alone fish tank wants.
TQ said something about a plastic fish bowel and mesh...so I guess I need to figure out how to do that and prepare to kill a bunch of tiny cute babies. OR.... will the seahorses eat the babies? Can I just let nature take its course? Must I really collect them to feed to the 90g carnivores?
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Well, there are a couple things you can consider. First (and I could be totally wrong, as I wasn't in your house watching your tank!) I don't think they actually had an egg transfer happen. As I said, I don't think he was *quite* ready. Also, when it happens, you'll have about 2 to 3 weeks of gestation time before the male gives birth. Peka may have cleared up her seahorse problem by the time you have kiddies to deliver.
Also, since this is presumably his first batch of offspring, he will probably not deliver as many. The first brood is usually smaller than subsequent batches. Or so I've read -- feel free to google it and double check.
You can of course just leave the fry in the display tank, but be aware that they WILL NOT live in those conditions. Too many predators. Yes, I have read that the adult seahorses may make a meal out of the young, but I've never heard of any personal experiences in that matter so I don't know for sure. What I DO know, however, is that the dieoff from a large numbr of baby horses would probably cause a spike in your tank parameters. I'm not trying to be cruel but I think it's best you remove them from the display. Your adults will be better off without the amm spike the babies would certainly produce.
As for breeding them....well, you need to talk to our resident erectus breeder extraordinaire.....Theresa is going to know a LOT more about it than I do. I gots me a bunch o' book learnin'. She went and got all the direct experience......far more valuable IMO.
Yikes....I'm sorry to hear you're on sick leave! I hope you'll be able to get back to it soon. I know how frustrating it is to WANT to work, yet not be allowed. Get Better Soon!!!
Also, since this is presumably his first batch of offspring, he will probably not deliver as many. The first brood is usually smaller than subsequent batches. Or so I've read -- feel free to google it and double check.
You can of course just leave the fry in the display tank, but be aware that they WILL NOT live in those conditions. Too many predators. Yes, I have read that the adult seahorses may make a meal out of the young, but I've never heard of any personal experiences in that matter so I don't know for sure. What I DO know, however, is that the dieoff from a large numbr of baby horses would probably cause a spike in your tank parameters. I'm not trying to be cruel but I think it's best you remove them from the display. Your adults will be better off without the amm spike the babies would certainly produce.
As for breeding them....well, you need to talk to our resident erectus breeder extraordinaire.....Theresa is going to know a LOT more about it than I do. I gots me a bunch o' book learnin'. She went and got all the direct experience......far more valuable IMO.
Yikes....I'm sorry to hear you're on sick leave! I hope you'll be able to get back to it soon. I know how frustrating it is to WANT to work, yet not be allowed. Get Better Soon!!!
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Here is a link to T's video. Theresa, if you want to embed it in the forum, you have to use Youtube.
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh146/m0mto4kids/?action=view¤t=video006.mp4
http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh146/m0mto4kids/?action=view¤t=video006.mp4
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
LOL!!! So he's definitely a post-coitus cuddler, and she looks like she just wants to go grab a bite to eat.
Boy, the sex roles in seahorses really ARE reversed, huh??
Boy, the sex roles in seahorses really ARE reversed, huh??
meowzer
Moderator
WOW...Flower....Teresa made her fry tank from a laundry basket.....I agree with Nova....talk to her..I BET you have a lot of stuff laying around you could use....
also....I THINK (not sure) you can buy the bb eggs...and I did not think they were that much......Just think..if you get them to live you can sell them :0
of course that will be months down the road..UNLESS PEKA would be interested in buying the whole batch from you at a really good price
also....I THINK (not sure) you can buy the bb eggs...and I did not think they were that much......Just think..if you get them to live you can sell them :0
of course that will be months down the road..UNLESS PEKA would be interested in buying the whole batch from you at a really good price
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/384788/are-my-seahorses-dancing#post_3372248
WOW...Flower....Teresa made her fry tank from a laundry basket.....I agree with Nova....talk to her..I BET you have a lot of stuff laying around you could use....
also....I THINK (not sure) you can buy the bb eggs...and I did not think they were that much......Just think..if you get them to live you can sell them :0
of course that will be months down the road..UNLESS PEKA would be interested in buying the whole batch from you at a really good price
LOL Meowzer….let me explain it this way.
My house is sooo small and everyone asks…How small is it? I can say “I can plug in my upright vacuum cleaner in the outlet next to my 90g fish tank in the living room and vacuum my entire hose and never stretch the cord full length.” I am not kidding.
The living room: I have the 90g that takes up an entire wall. I have a set of book cases on another wall..The 47” TV is hung above that. The Blue ray player sits on top of the book cases and a shelf mounted over the door holds the satellite box. I have two chairs and a small end table on the other side of the room where my mom and I watch the TV. On the one remaining wall is a love seat sized sofa. In front of that is a coffee table. This leaves a 2 foot walk around the room to go sit down or go to the kitchen or bedrooms.
The kitchen: it’s the biggest room. In it I have my front loader washer and dryer, a small round table with 4 chairs, a stove, a hanging microwave above the dryer and JellyBeans huge 4 X4 ½ foot cage on wheels next to the table. It may seem huge to me but my Amazon parrot is cramped, it would be cruel to put him in a smaller cage. This leaves a 3x3 space for us to walk around in the kitchen and cook.
My Mom’s room: She has a queen sized bed, a desk, chest of drawers, a file cabinet and an end table (hers is the big bedroom) There is a 1½ foot walk around her bed …that’s it.
My room: I have a daybed, chest of drawers, small student size desk, a small table to hold my printer and the 30g seahorse fish tank . I have a 3x3 space open in the center of my room.
The bathroom: A sink with a vanity, a bathtub, and a toilet…this leaves a 2x 2 ½ space after you close the door.
There is a 2 foot wide hallway to go from the bedrooms and bathroom to the living room.
So given this info…where do you suggest I put a laundry tub for baby seahorses and a hatchery for bbs where they may stay for 6 months?..and remember I have 3 males so won’t I have more babies long before the first batch is ready to go?
It isn’t that I don’t have the dedication to try and save them. I don’t have the means, the space or sadly the health to take care of them. I can bag them up for Peka to pick up or they will be fish food…I really have no choice. This is why I only wanted females. I didn’t want to have to make this horrible choice.
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/384788/are-my-seahorses-dancing#post_3372248
WOW...Flower....Teresa made her fry tank from a laundry basket.....I agree with Nova....talk to her..I BET you have a lot of stuff laying around you could use....
also....I THINK (not sure) you can buy the bb eggs...and I did not think they were that much......Just think..if you get them to live you can sell them :0
of course that will be months down the road..UNLESS PEKA would be interested in buying the whole batch from you at a really good price
LOL Meowzer….let me explain it this way.
My house is sooo small and everyone asks…How small is it? I can say “I can plug in my upright vacuum cleaner in the outlet next to my 90g fish tank in the living room and vacuum my entire hose and never stretch the cord full length.” I am not kidding.
The living room: I have the 90g that takes up an entire wall. I have a set of book cases on another wall..The 47” TV is hung above that. The Blue ray player sits on top of the book cases and a shelf mounted over the door holds the satellite box. I have two chairs and a small end table on the other side of the room where my mom and I watch the TV. On the one remaining wall is a love seat sized sofa. In front of that is a coffee table. This leaves a 2 foot walk around the room to go sit down or go to the kitchen or bedrooms.
The kitchen: it’s the biggest room. In it I have my front loader washer and dryer, a small round table with 4 chairs, a stove, a hanging microwave above the dryer and JellyBeans huge 4 X4 ½ foot cage on wheels next to the table. It may seem huge to me but my Amazon parrot is cramped, it would be cruel to put him in a smaller cage. This leaves a 3x3 space for us to walk around in the kitchen and cook.
My Mom’s room: She has a queen sized bed, a desk, chest of drawers, a file cabinet and an end table (hers is the big bedroom) There is a 1½ foot walk around her bed …that’s it.
My room: I have a daybed, chest of drawers, small student size desk, a small table to hold my printer and the 30g seahorse fish tank . I have a 3x3 space open in the center of my room.
The bathroom: A sink with a vanity, a bathtub, and a toilet…this leaves a 2x 2 ½ space after you close the door.
There is a 2 foot wide hallway to go from the bedrooms and bathroom to the living room.
So given this info…where do you suggest I put a laundry tub for baby seahorses and a hatchery for bbs where they may stay for 6 months?..and remember I have 3 males so won’t I have more babies long before the first batch is ready to go?
It isn’t that I don’t have the dedication to try and save them. I don’t have the means, the space or sadly the health to take care of them. I can bag them up for Peka to pick up or they will be fish food…I really have no choice. This is why I only wanted females. I didn’t want to have to make this horrible choice.
meowzer
Moderator
It's not a horrible choice.....I am sure lots of people do it....I have no PEKA or anything near me...IF I were to have babies what do you think is gonna happen to mine I have a few spots....empty rooms....and such BUT I do not have a life as it is....so I am not willing to try to hatch bb shimp 24/7....my choice has been made....by me....
sounds like yours is too.....DON'T fret over it Flower......it is a part of nature...
I have a few spots....empty rooms....and such BUT I do not have a life as it is....so I am not willing to try to hatch bb shimp 24/7....my choice has been made....by me....sounds like yours is too.....DON'T fret over it Flower......it is a part of nature...
flower
Well-Known Member
No, I disagree…It is a horrible choice.
I looked at my mom’s face when I explained about the babies. This is not do-able.
Nova, you were talking about a tank mate…do you want my little girl? I have three males so I will keep them, and give away M&M. That way you have two females and I won’t have babies to have to kill.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Flower, that is such a considerate offer! If I wasn't in such a state of flux right now I would probably say YES and be damned with the shipping costs. But I can't in good conscience accept.....sorry to say.....until I know for sure where exactly I'm going to be landing. As it is, I'm considering the unfortunate possibility that I may have to break down even this relatively small tank. If I am forced to rent, I just may have to close the tank up for 12 months. What a depressing thought.
As you say, this is a very difficult decision to make. In my opinion, if you are not able (I'm sure you'd be willing if space provided...) to deal with the seahorse fry, you should contact Peka and see about trading out. If you choose to do this, I would actually suggest you trade your MALES out. I know how much personality they have (and I LOVE the one with the black mask!! He should be named Zorro....) but for long term care a harem of females will be easier to deal with than a stable of males. Seahorses are generally very peaceable, but 3 or more males together may occasionally go through some pecking order issues....and of course you may have to deal with gas bubbles in the pouch. Not an issue with females.
That's just my $0.02. Spend it wherever you like.
As you say, this is a very difficult decision to make. In my opinion, if you are not able (I'm sure you'd be willing if space provided...) to deal with the seahorse fry, you should contact Peka and see about trading out. If you choose to do this, I would actually suggest you trade your MALES out. I know how much personality they have (and I LOVE the one with the black mask!! He should be named Zorro....) but for long term care a harem of females will be easier to deal with than a stable of males. Seahorses are generally very peaceable, but 3 or more males together may occasionally go through some pecking order issues....and of course you may have to deal with gas bubbles in the pouch. Not an issue with females.
That's just my $0.02. Spend it wherever you like.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///forum/thread/384788/are-my-seahorses-dancing#post_3372320
Flower, that is such a considerate offer! If I wasn't in such a state of flux right now I would probably say YES and be damned with the shipping costs. But I can't in good conscience accept.....sorry to say.....until I know for sure where exactly I'm going to be landing. As it is, I'm considering the unfortunate possibility that I may have to break down even this relatively small tank. If I am forced to rent, I just may have to close the tank up for 12 months. What a depressing thought.
As you say, this is a very difficult decision to make. In my opinion, if you are not able (I'm sure you'd be willing if space provided...) to deal with the seahorse fry, you should contact Peka and see about trading out. If you choose to do this, I would actually suggest you trade your MALES out. I know how much personality they have (and I LOVE the one with the black mask!! He should be named Zorro....) but for long term care a harem of females will be easier to deal with than a stable of males. Seahorses are generally very peaceable, but 3 or more males together may occasionally go through some pecking order issues....and of course you may have to deal with gas bubbles in the pouch. Not an issue with females.
That's just my $0.02. Spend it wherever you like.
Bummer...but I understand completely. I can't imagine you and no tank at all.
Who would take care of your baby?
The problem is if I can trust Peka to pick out 3 feamles...she might be able to find a girl but as a group she failed terribly. That's why I'm in this pickle. I had purchased four females from her and for the exact reasons you stated. I guess I will be a murderer of tiny cute critters. Peka has not answered my e-mail and she has her hands full with a sick horse. I assume that's why she hasn't answerd back.
If I can't get her to reply about this...what can I do when babies are born and hours are important. She just isn't trust worthy. She seemed like a really nice lady, but she had tanks everywhere and maybe she really doesn't want to deal with me right now.
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///forum/thread/384788/are-my-seahorses-dancing#post_3372320
Flower, that is such a considerate offer! If I wasn't in such a state of flux right now I would probably say YES and be damned with the shipping costs. But I can't in good conscience accept.....sorry to say.....until I know for sure where exactly I'm going to be landing. As it is, I'm considering the unfortunate possibility that I may have to break down even this relatively small tank. If I am forced to rent, I just may have to close the tank up for 12 months. What a depressing thought.
As you say, this is a very difficult decision to make. In my opinion, if you are not able (I'm sure you'd be willing if space provided...) to deal with the seahorse fry, you should contact Peka and see about trading out. If you choose to do this, I would actually suggest you trade your MALES out. I know how much personality they have (and I LOVE the one with the black mask!! He should be named Zorro....) but for long term care a harem of females will be easier to deal with than a stable of males. Seahorses are generally very peaceable, but 3 or more males together may occasionally go through some pecking order issues....and of course you may have to deal with gas bubbles in the pouch. Not an issue with females.
That's just my $0.02. Spend it wherever you like.
Bummer...but I understand completely. I can't imagine you and no tank at all.
The problem is if I can trust Peka to pick out 3 feamles...she might be able to find a girl but as a group she failed terribly. That's why I'm in this pickle. I had purchased four females from her and for the exact reasons you stated. I guess I will be a murderer of tiny cute critters. Peka has not answered my e-mail and she has her hands full with a sick horse. I assume that's why she hasn't answerd back.
If I can't get her to reply about this...what can I do when babies are born and hours are important. She just isn't trust worthy. She seemed like a really nice lady, but she had tanks everywhere and maybe she really doesn't want to deal with me right now.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by TeresaQ http:///forum/thread/384788/are-my-seahorses-dancing#post_3372329
From what I read, her horse passed a couple of days ago. Maybe she just isnt checking her e-mails, I know I dont. lol
It died????? Last I read they couldn't figure out what the sore spot was. It was such a big beautiful horse too.
Originally Posted by TeresaQ http:///forum/thread/384788/are-my-seahorses-dancing#post_3372329
From what I read, her horse passed a couple of days ago. Maybe she just isnt checking her e-mails, I know I dont. lol
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
How goes the sex change operation? Has peka contacted you to discuss the impending depraved promiscuity that will soon descend upon your happy home?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///forum/thread/384788/are-my-seahorses-dancing#post_3373803
How goes the sex change operation? Has peka contacted you to discuss the impending depraved promiscuity that will soon descend upon your happy home?
You have such a way with words.
No, I guess I will just have to suck it up and kill some babies. As I watched my little critters I noticed the way they unwrap themselves from corals...Are you into SCI-FI movies? I think the creator of the Aliens in the movie, designed the alien after the way seahorses hide and move. I know the toothy tongue idea came from a moray eel.
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///forum/thread/384788/are-my-seahorses-dancing#post_3373803
How goes the sex change operation? Has peka contacted you to discuss the impending depraved promiscuity that will soon descend upon your happy home?
No, I guess I will just have to suck it up and kill some babies. As I watched my little critters I noticed the way they unwrap themselves from corals...Are you into SCI-FI movies? I think the creator of the Aliens in the movie, designed the alien after the way seahorses hide and move. I know the toothy tongue idea came from a moray eel.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
LOL!!
Am I into sci-fi movies?
Am I into sci-fi movies, she asks.
My website, and the source of my screen name. Enjoy.
H.R. Giger was a pretty kooked up dude. The final design of the Alien tongue didn't convey completely, but the initial artwork was pretty phallic in concept...with a Moray's mouth at the end, yes. And the underside of the facehugger creature left little to the imagination in regards to what part of the female anatomy THAT was supposed to represent.
Wee-Wees and Hoo-Ha's. Giger was all about 'em.
Sorry to hear about the babies. Maybe you will be able to arrange something with Peka before the first brood makes its appearance.
Am I into sci-fi movies?
Am I into sci-fi movies, she asks.
My website, and the source of my screen name. Enjoy.
H.R. Giger was a pretty kooked up dude. The final design of the Alien tongue didn't convey completely, but the initial artwork was pretty phallic in concept...with a Moray's mouth at the end, yes. And the underside of the facehugger creature left little to the imagination in regards to what part of the female anatomy THAT was supposed to represent.
Wee-Wees and Hoo-Ha's. Giger was all about 'em.
Sorry to hear about the babies. Maybe you will be able to arrange something with Peka before the first brood makes its appearance.