Baby Seahorse Emergency -Help Please-

[shaunalynna]

We knew we were expecting any day from about 3wks ago when purchased. I was going to have my new tank set up this weekend and be ready for them only to not have a filter for it! We were going to rig the tank for baby safety. Now of course because I couldn't find a filter and get set up as planed they delivered between last night and early today. What can I do to save these little guy's and get something safe QUICK to put them in? They look like little worms in my tank so much smaller then I thought they would be. So cute though and I want to try and save them. I need to get them out of my tank ASAP though and away from my filter so what can I do? I was thinking of going and getting one of those large critter keepers and a filter with stone to add air to the water. I would of course get a mini light to keep it warm inside. This will be a temp solution until there a little bigger to be in a tank. This is all I can think of so any other ideas or a ya or neigh is wanted! I must do something ASAP!
Hmm...Upon closer look not sure these are babies or were they born to early maybe? There tiny needle points size things swimming in my water that are like a yellowish color. They curl up and things plus swim fast but after seeing pics of newborn horses not thinking this is them. They seem to small to be them unless he delievered early. Should I still try to remove the things out or let them?

 

[shaunalynna]

This is all I could get for pictures of what I am talking about that is in my tank. No flash and evening lights were all that would really help some to show! Look closely and the dots you see are the tiny things I am talking about. These things are micro tiny leading me to believe why there not my babies or that he delivered early! Any other ideas on what they could be? They swim and stay up in the middle of the tank or middle. Baby seahorses I know usually look like the parents and you can't make anything out on these!

 

[teresaq]

do you have a ten gal tank?? or even a 5 gal.
they dont need a filter, just an airstone to keep them off the top
you will have to do multi water changes to keep water as clean as posible.
Do you have rotifers and bbs for them??
TeresaQ

 

[shaunalynna]

Yes, I have a small tank that I was going to use for a nursery and I knew about the airstone deal also. Water changes I know will be more frequent. Food is also anotehr thing I was prepared with already. Are they babies though? I always thought they were larger, and looked like little replicas? Am I right did he deliver early? If your sure this is what they are then I will fish em out and get them in to my small tank. No one could help me confirm it though.

 

[poniegirl]

How is the papa doing? His condition might be a good indicator? Also, do you have a magnifying glass?
I have not bred seahorses (don't have the nerve) so I couldn't tell you what they will or won't look like. "Swimming fast" seems odd..

 

[shaunalynna]

Pappa seems fine! His routine has not changed much and I have kept an eye on him. I don't have a magnifying glass around that I know of. He looks the same as he did before these things showed up in the tank. Only the 2 horses and 3 snails are in there so other then him delivering earlier then he should have I don't know what else it could be. My boyfriend suggested copepods but where would they have come from with only one small rock taken from my larger tank added to it. I haven't seen these things either before this AM when lights went on and I found them. I just thought the babies were supposed to be a little smaller then a dwarf seahorse when born that looked just like the parents. Obviously from what I have been saying mine wouldn't be babies or fully developed!

 

[poniegirl]

If papa looks the same, he has probably not delivered. Can we see him now?
You may have an infestation of some sort? If so, you will need to clear it up asap.

 

[novahobbies]

what other livestock do you have in this tank? I had a pair of emerald crabs spawn one time, and what you describe sounds exactly like that situation. If so, enjoy the show, but don't expect them to be around long. Crustacean larvae stay planktonic for a while, and will either be filtered out or become snacks for the fishes. Some shrimp are hemaphroditic as well, and may be able to reproduce alone (!!!) but I don't know that for sure.

 

[shaunalynna]

Originally Posted by novahobbies
http:///forum/post/2768372
what other livestock do you have in this tank? I had a pair of emerald crabs spawn one time, and what you describe sounds exactly like that situation. If so, enjoy the show, but don't expect them to be around long. Crustacean larvae stay planktonic for a while, and will either be filtered out or become snacks for the fishes. Some shrimp are hemaphroditic as well, and may be able to reproduce alone (!!!) but I don't know that for sure.

There is nothing else in my tank with them other then like 4 mics. cleaner snails. I did put my hermits in for a couple days though until someone came by to pick them up but that is it. Sadly whatever it was though is now gone anyhow as I have not seen anymore in the tank!
PonieGirl,
I will get you a pic of Pappa when I can get a good shot. He likes to stay in the back area of my tank making it hard to actually get decent pics.