HELP!!!APACHE&NAVAJO!!!!

rykna

Active Member
Lisa posted this

I got up this morning and found both of my horses (yeah, both of them) on the sand...neither would eat breakfast. I tried spot feeding, some tough love, etc...I've checked the water parameters twice...
ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 0
pH 8.2
SG 1.025-6
I was convinced that both were gone, and when I went in to "dispose of them", I reached in to retrieve Apache and he scooted away, same with Navajo. On careful inspection, both are breathing normally, their skin (as far as I can tell) looks fine. Their eyes looks bright, but "confused and worried".
I tried upping the temperature very slowly, and at this point I put in one of the mini jets to see if flow is the problem.
Going over what I did yesterday in that tank. I had to replace yet another filter (the old one was not working at all), but I went with a smaller of the same brand. I did a water change 5 gallons. and I added a new fake plant. I never...NEVER have chemicals around my tanks, so I don't believe that that could be the culprit.
Please...PLEASE...I've been in tears all day long off and on...I feel so useless. Also, I got on the big horsie site and found that this as happened to someone else's kuda 6/25/07...no response...
 

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by Rykna
Lisa posted this

I got up this morning and found both of my horses (yeah, both of them) on the sand...neither would eat breakfast. I tried spot feeding, some tough love, etc...I've checked the water parameters twice...
ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 0
pH 8.2
SG 1.025-6
I was convinced that both were gone, and when I went in to "dispose of them", I reached in to retrieve Apache and he scooted away, same with Navajo. On careful inspection, both are breathing normally, their skin (as far as I can tell) looks fine. Their eyes looks bright, but "confused and worried".
I tried upping the temperature very slowly, and at this point I put in one of the mini jets to see if flow is the problem.
Going over what I did yesterday in that tank. I had to replace yet another filter (the old one was not working at all), but I went with a smaller of the same brand. I did a water change 5 gallons. and I added a new fake plant. I never...NEVER have chemicals around my tanks, so I don't believe that that could be the culprit.
Please...PLEASE...I've been in tears all day long off and on...I feel so useless. Also, I got on the big horsie site and found that this as happened to someone else's kuda 6/25/07...no response...
Thank you Ryk,
I've been trying to PM various people, including you but the post is too long. I just don't know what to do for them???
Lisa
 

rykna

Active Member
Lets try the chat one more time...I just sent an invite to you, log in to your gmail account my name should be in the contact list on the left hand side. Click my name and click invite to chat
 

rykna

Active Member
I think you better start preparing the nursery.
Seahorse reproduction is one of the most unique methods in all of the animal kingdom. Seahorses pair up and mate for life. Their mating ritual begins with a courtship routine. The male starts it by dancing around the female. He produces clicking sounds with his skull and both the male and the female change colors. Moving to a coral, sponge or piece of seagrass, the pair takes hold with their tails, wrapping around it. They will venture from the meeting spot to float across the ocean bottom with their tails entwined. Eventually, the female stretches out her body, pointing her tail down and nose up toward the surface. At the same time, the male pulls his tail back and pumps water in and out of a pouch on his belly. After rinsing out his pouch, the male lengthens his body and pairs up with the female belly to belly. The couple locks together when the female puts her ovipositor or tube that deposits eggs into the male’s pouch. From the tube, a string of large pear-shaped sticky eggs go into the pouch. Once the eggs are safely inside, the male releases sperm, fertilizing the eggs. After all the eggs are inserted, the male floats down to the bottom, swishing back and forth to settle the eggs down into the bottom of the pouch.

The morning after the male is pregnant, the pair meets and performs the first few stages of their mating ritual. They will change colors, dance around each other and wrap their tails together. After this morning greeting, the female leaves the male for the rest of the day and returns the next morning for a repeat performance.
 

monalisa

Active Member

Originally Posted by Rykna
I think you better start preparing the nursery.
Seahorse reproduction is one of the most unique methods in all of the animal kingdom. Seahorses pair up and mate for life. Their mating ritual begins with a courtship routine. The male starts it by dancing around the female. He produces clicking sounds with his skull and both the male and the female change colors. Moving to a coral, sponge or piece of seagrass, the pair takes hold with their tails, wrapping around it. They will venture from the meeting spot to float across the ocean bottom with their tails entwined. Eventually, the female stretches out her body, pointing her tail down and nose up toward the surface. At the same time, the male pulls his tail back and pumps water in and out of a pouch on his belly. After rinsing out his pouch, the male lengthens his body and pairs up with the female belly to belly. The couple locks together when the female puts her ovipositor or tube that deposits eggs into the male’s pouch. From the tube, a string of large pear-shaped sticky eggs go into the pouch. Once the eggs are safely inside, the male releases sperm, fertilizing the eggs. After all the eggs are inserted, the male floats down to the bottom, swishing back and forth to settle the eggs down into the bottom of the pouch.

The morning after the male is pregnant, the pair meets and performs the first few stages of their mating ritual. They will change colors, dance around each other and wrap their tails together. After this morning greeting, the female leaves the male for the rest of the day and returns the next morning for a repeat performance.
If it's true that this is what I've been toiling over for the whole day...I can't tell you what heartbreak I've gone through today...well, you know Ryk, you talked with me during all of this...if it's true that my horses are just "chilling" after mating...OK, I'm good with that, obviously.
I'll keep you posted as things progress.
Lisa
 

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by Rykna
Lets try the chat one more time...I just sent an invite to you, log in to your gmail account my name should be in the contact list on the left hand side. Click my name and click invite to chat
Did you get my invite?
Lisa
 

rykna

Active Member
Originally Posted by MonaLisa
If it's true that this is what I've been toiling over for the whole day...I can't tell you what heartbreak I've gone through today...well, you know Ryk, you talked with me during all of this...if it's true that my horses are just "chilling" after mating...OK, I'm good with that, obviously.
I'll keep you posted as things progress.
Lisa
Glad I could help.
 

rykna

Active Member
Originally Posted by MonaLisa
Did you get my invite?
Lisa
I did, however, that was a invitation to a new gmail account, not an invitation to chat. I sent you another email, I hope that helps...no worries.
 

monalisa

Active Member
This morning Apache seems to be coming out of it a little bit, but Navajo is showing no real change...yet. I tried feeding them a little breakfast...very little, but neither has shown interest. I'll be doing a 3 gallon water change later this morning to make sure the extra food in the tank doesn't cause water problems. Still watching and waiting...I just want to see them swimming arouund again.
Lisa
 

old_salt

Member
Hi Lisa,
It sounds to me like you may have removed a large amount of your beneficial bacteria in this system and also reduced the amount of oxygen your horses were getting. I found that changing out filters, doing water changes and moving rocks around (all in the same cleaning) can be deadly. I did this in a 46 gallon tank awhile back and awoke to find over half of the fish in this tank had died. I can't say for sure this is what happened in your case, but I do know from experience this can be hazardous to fish. I lost a yellow tang, a sixline, a large tomato clown, cleaner shrimp and several peppermints. I do hope your seahorses come through this (whatever it is) okay.
 

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by Old_Salt
Hi Lisa,
It sounds to me like you may have removed a large amount of your beneficial bacteria in this system and also reduced the amount of oxygen your horses were getting. I found that changing out filters, doing water changes and moving rocks around (all in the same cleaning) can be deadly. I did this in a 46 gallon tank awhile back and awoke to find over half of the fish in this tank had died. I can't say for sure this is what happened in your case, but I do know from experience this can be hazardous to fish. I lost a yellow tang, a sixline, a large tomato clown, cleaner shrimp and several peppermints. I do hope your seahorses come through this (whatever it is) okay.
I had actually gone through the worry of thinking this might be the case...but, I've been doing these changes since I got the horses (5gallon) and the filter I switched out is actually the smaller of two that I'm running, the other quite established with good stuff.
My worry now is that with my attempting to feed them, I'm seeing a rise in ammonia, which I'm dealing with the small water changes over the course of this coming week.
I'm out of town right now, and Beth has taken on the burden of keeping an eye on what's going on with my horses. She called and said that at this point, Apache is moving around a bit. Navajo has found a piece of grass and is vertical again. Both seem to be coming around. I've been sending prayers up all day...Beth will be keeping me updated while I'm gone. For now, all positive news.
Thanks everyone, especially Ryk who went out of her way to call me and talk me through a few things...that's priceless.
Lisa
 

darthtang aw

Active Member
Like Ryk stated it could be the after affects of the mating dance, I don't remember this lasting more than a day though.
My horses occasionally did the same thing and then came out of it. Never did figure out what it was.
The other thing to think about is change Brand names of mysis food .....I found some were better than others andmy horses would react differently. I ended up sticking with Ykari (sp?)...and they seemed healthier for it.
I honestly believe it is like when people get the flu, not life threatening just feeling a little sick.
 

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
Like Ryk stated it could be the after affects of the mating dance, I don't remember this lasting more than a day though.
My horses occasionally did the same thing and then came out of it. Never did figure out what it was.
The other thing to think about is change Brand names of mysis food .....I found some were better than others andmy horses would react differently. I ended up sticking with Ykari (sp?)...and they seemed healthier for it.
I honestly believe it is like when people get the flu, not life threatening just feeling a little sick.
Thanks Darth. I actually didn't end up switching brands of shrimp for Apache and Navajo since I didn't feel comfortable doing that...they're still getting the brand they've always gotten, Hakari's frozen mysis (vitamin enhanced, free of parasites).
Thanks to everyone for your responses during this mini-crisis...it's SO great to know I have friends I can count on at the drop of a hat.
I'm home now, and last report from Beth is that the horses are out and about hunting, and they both ate great at both meals today. I got home too late to see them eat their dinner tonight, but they do look SO much better than they did a couple of days ago, for which I am very greatful. Beth said they're even hitching tails from time to time...Yay!!!

Lisa
 

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by Rykna
AWESOME!!! Thank you Lord, amen.
Great to hear Lisa.
My sentiments exactly Ryk...I don't know how to thank you enough...want some baby seahorses?? j/k
. Sincerely, your concern and input during all of this was very touching and much appreciated!!
Lisa
 

rykna

Active Member
Originally Posted by MonaLisa
My sentiments exactly Ryk...I don't know how to thank you enough...want some baby seahorses?? j/k
. Sincerely, your concern and input during all of this was very touching and much appreciated!!
Lisa
You are most welcome. That's what friends are for
The pictures of Navajo and Apache happy and healthly are priceless. As for the baby seahorses, I have a empty 90 gallon tank here, with their names written all over it

But before I take that I on I need to finish building a stand and refinishing a 45 gallon tank for Luke.
Hmmm....wonder how many grand "fish" your horses will have
 
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