slowburn22
Member
Short and simple: the LFS sold me this fish as a hippocampus kuda, but I think it looks like a hippocampus kelloggi. Are they the same seahorse?
Seahorse ID Help Anyone?
- Thread starter slowburn22
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slowburn22
Member
Aww come on, I know somebody can ID this girl...
slowburn22
Member
If I took a chance and bought a kellogi would they be compatable if this is infact a kuda? Will these species interbreed?
poniegirl
Active Member
My answer to your question is without a doubt, if you are keeping your first seahorse, keep it as directed according to the species you purchased it as. Unless someone can without question change the ID.
Don't introduce another species or anything of additional concern until you understand the species you have.
While I have found seahorses to not be the frail animals that folks may believe, I also know that it takes experience to keep them for the long life they should have.
Seahorses are very social animals..it doesn't have to be a male/female pair for them to interact. But choose the same species, same gender, in my opinion.
I am not a fan of home breeding, much less inter-species.
Don't introduce another species or anything of additional concern until you understand the species you have.
While I have found seahorses to not be the frail animals that folks may believe, I also know that it takes experience to keep them for the long life they should have.
Seahorses are very social animals..it doesn't have to be a male/female pair for them to interact. But choose the same species, same gender, in my opinion.
I am not a fan of home breeding, much less inter-species.
monalisa
Active Member
Originally Posted by PonieGirl
it doesn't have to be a male/female pair for them to interact. But choose the same species, same gender, in my opinion.
I am not a fan of home breeding, much less inter-species.
In the research that I've been doing to prepare for my horses, I can't agree with this statement ENOUGH!!
Breeding of such species needs to be left up to the professionals of the species or the seahorses themselves in the wild. Period.
Your horse is beautiful, and I'm really looking forward to getting my new additions, but that won't be for another couple of months I think. I really want to make sure that things are just right for them to be happy.
Best of luck with yours.
Lisa :happyfish
it doesn't have to be a male/female pair for them to interact. But choose the same species, same gender, in my opinion.
I am not a fan of home breeding, much less inter-species.
In the research that I've been doing to prepare for my horses, I can't agree with this statement ENOUGH!!
Breeding of such species needs to be left up to the professionals of the species or the seahorses themselves in the wild. Period.
Your horse is beautiful, and I'm really looking forward to getting my new additions, but that won't be for another couple of months I think. I really want to make sure that things are just right for them to be happy.
Best of luck with yours.
Lisa :happyfish
rykna
Active Member
I have to vote H. Kuda. I count 9 back spines, just like Valiant.
A very "common" seahorse in the trade, most truly unidentified specimens are mistakenly labeled as H. kuda. True specimens are somewhat difficult to find, though they are being captive bred. Low, rounded coronet is a telltale sign. Solid, bold colors ranging from black to pale yellow. 17-18 dorsal rays and 11 body rings.
~ Hippocampus erectus, whose coloring and body shape are similar, but kuda lacks lined patterning.
~Hippocampus ingens, whose coloring and body shape are similar, but most kuda lack white patterning and have less-developed coronets.
~Hippocampus reidi, whose coloring and body shape are similar, but lacks similar patterning
A very "common" seahorse in the trade, most truly unidentified specimens are mistakenly labeled as H. kuda. True specimens are somewhat difficult to find, though they are being captive bred. Low, rounded coronet is a telltale sign. Solid, bold colors ranging from black to pale yellow. 17-18 dorsal rays and 11 body rings.
~ Hippocampus erectus, whose coloring and body shape are similar, but kuda lacks lined patterning.
~Hippocampus ingens, whose coloring and body shape are similar, but most kuda lack white patterning and have less-developed coronets.
~Hippocampus reidi, whose coloring and body shape are similar, but lacks similar patterning
slowburn22
Member
Thanks for the very informative post Rykna. And as for the breeding comments...
I was just basing it on the fact that if they would do the dirty dance then they would most likely be compatable tank mates. Also due to the fact that they look so similar.
slowburn22
Member
OOps, almost forgot... What do you have your horses on Pony??? Im feeding this girl frozen mysis twice a day now supplimented with enriched live brine. Will they also eat peppermint shrimp larvae?
poniegirl
Active Member
Originally Posted by slowburn22
OOps, almost forgot... What do you have your horses on Pony??? Im feeding this girl frozen mysis twice a day now supplimented with enriched live brine. Will they also eat peppermint shrimp larvae?
I bet they might go for the larvae! I'm seeing more and more food choices out there. Red shrimp, fish fry, etc..I'm sure variety is good. And the enriched live brine are a nice supplement. Brine are most nutritious 24 to 48 hours after hatching, while they still have the yolk sac, so do enrich if they grow past that time. The poor adult brines are not nutritionally valuable at all, without gut load.
I have fed my horses mysis and am fortunate to have had a great pod population. I do have a mandarin fish that enjoys that fact.
I am taking a break from keeping right now. My last two horses I had with me, one for 3 years, one for four. They were kept together, both erectus (I believe). They both came from the same LFS, though a year apart in time. They never did claim a species, and IDing is..well, what it is!
The larger of the two died last October (a very sad, drawn out time) and her tankmate in December. I decided to wait a while before replacing...maybe take a vacation without needing a housesitter!
These were my girls. Both had the high, five point coronet and quite well defined spines. They were pretty solidly colored, most of the time, though some line patterns were apparent on occasion.
I figure another three or six months and I'll be ready. I do miss keeping them!
OOps, almost forgot... What do you have your horses on Pony??? Im feeding this girl frozen mysis twice a day now supplimented with enriched live brine. Will they also eat peppermint shrimp larvae?
I bet they might go for the larvae! I'm seeing more and more food choices out there. Red shrimp, fish fry, etc..I'm sure variety is good. And the enriched live brine are a nice supplement. Brine are most nutritious 24 to 48 hours after hatching, while they still have the yolk sac, so do enrich if they grow past that time. The poor adult brines are not nutritionally valuable at all, without gut load.
I have fed my horses mysis and am fortunate to have had a great pod population. I do have a mandarin fish that enjoys that fact.
I am taking a break from keeping right now. My last two horses I had with me, one for 3 years, one for four. They were kept together, both erectus (I believe). They both came from the same LFS, though a year apart in time. They never did claim a species, and IDing is..well, what it is!
The larger of the two died last October (a very sad, drawn out time) and her tankmate in December. I decided to wait a while before replacing...maybe take a vacation without needing a housesitter!
These were my girls. Both had the high, five point coronet and quite well defined spines. They were pretty solidly colored, most of the time, though some line patterns were apparent on occasion.
I figure another three or six months and I'll be ready. I do miss keeping them!
slowburn22
Member
Wow, those were some good looking horses... Sucks that you lost them. I hope I can get mine to last that long. I wonder what killed them? I bet the second death was because it lost its buddy.
What kind of filtration and lighting did you have on your tank. I have an Emperor 280 HOB right now and I'm thinking about getting a skimmer and T-5 lighting for corals. Just curious what others use on their seahorse tanks.
What kind of filtration and lighting did you have on your tank. I have an Emperor 280 HOB right now and I'm thinking about getting a skimmer and T-5 lighting for corals. Just curious what others use on their seahorse tanks.
sharkboy13
Active Member
it does look like a kuda
poniegirl
Active Member
I have a Prism Skimmer (still running it) and did have a Magnum 350 canister. I stll have it, but have stored it to see what the live rock/ natural filter will do. The tank is a 55 and they are awkward little beasts.
When the seahorses were in the tank, I had one powerhead, the Magnum and the skimmer providing the water movement.
I switched to T5 from basic tubes in September or so (?) hard to remember.
Long story on my girls, but somewhere in these boards.
It is so important to keep these animals on a regular, nutritious feeding schedule. And keep the water quality up, goes without saying.
When the seahorses were in the tank, I had one powerhead, the Magnum and the skimmer providing the water movement.
I switched to T5 from basic tubes in September or so (?) hard to remember.
Long story on my girls, but somewhere in these boards.
It is so important to keep these animals on a regular, nutritious feeding schedule. And keep the water quality up, goes without saying.
slowburn22
Member
Thanks for your help Ponie......