Dwarf Seahorse Nano

DEWORMING SEAHORSES

Deworming is a nine week process in a cycled hospital/quarantine tank. You will use three different medications, for three weeks each. One day each week, feeding two meals of gutloaded live adult brine shrimp to the seahorse or pipefish. If you are unable to get the worming meds locally, you can get all three from Seahorse Source.

PRAZIQUANTEL Dosage and Preparation Instructions for Deworming
Active Ingredient: Praziquantel
Indication: worms and other internal parasites
Brand Names: PraziPro, Praz-Tastic, Praziquantel
One day each week, feed two meals of adult brine shrimp gut-loaded with Praziquantel to the Seahorse.
Repeat for a total of 3 weeks.
• Add 10ml (~2tsp) of Praziquantel to one gallon (~4 liters) of water and mix thoroughly.
• Place the amount of adult brine shrimp needed for one feeding into the mixture. Leave them in the
mixture for at least 2hrs.
• Remove the adult brine shrimp from the mixture and add them to the quarantine tank.
• Observe the Seahorse to be certain it is eating the adult brine shrimp.

METRONIDAZOLE Dosage and Preparation Instructions for Deworming
Active Ingredient: Metronidazole
Indication: flagellates and other internal parasites
Brand Names: Metro+, Metro-Pro, Metronidazole, Metro-MS, Flagyl. Flagyl is available by prescription
from your local veterinarian.
One day each week, feed two meals of adult brine shrimp gut-loaded with Metronidazole to the Seahorse.
Repeat for a total of 3 weeks.
• If using tablets, crush one tablet into a fine powder. If using powder, dose 1/4tsp.
• Add the Metronidazole to one gallon (~4 liters) of water and mix thoroughly.
• Place the amount of adult brine shrimp needed for one feeding into the mixture. Leave them in the
mixture for at least 2hrs.
• Remove the adult brine shrimp from the mixture and add them to the quarantine tank.
• Observe the Seahorse to be certain it is eating the adult brine shrimp.

FENBENDAZOLE (liquid) Dosage and Preparation Instructions for Deworming
Active Ingredient: 10% Fenbendazole
Indication: worms and other internal parasites
Brand Names: Panacur, Safe-Guard
One day each week, feed two meals of adult brine shrimp gut-loaded with Fenbendazole to the Seahorse.
Repeat for a total of 3 weeks.
• Add ~250mg (2ml or ~1/2 tsp) of the Fenbendazole mixture to one gallon (~4 liters) of water and mix
thoroughly.
• Place the amount of adult brine shrimp needed for one feeding into the mixture. Leave them in the
mixture for at least 2hrs.
• Remove the adult brine shrimp from the mixture and add them to the quarantine tank.
• Observe the Seahorse to be certain it is eating the adult brine shrimp.

 

Thanks rayjay! I appreciate the info! I'll make sure to do that treatment. I treated the tank, but I need to deworm the seahorses specifically.

 

Its interesting to ponder how the seahorses get by in the wild without all that medication. Neat to ponder whats the change that requires it when you bring them into a closed system, same pathogen loading on the animals it would seem. I once asked a pro how the seahorses deal with hydroids that are in nature, far numerous compared to how these tanks are ran against them. surely we'll get a chime in pretty quick.
its funny seahorses like all that med but a little selco is bad heh

 

In the wild, the water is always changing.
In the tank, the water is captive, allowing for pathogen and bacterial explosion when conditions are right.

 

= uv

 

what about the hydroids. how are those dealt w in nature?


Ive tested water for generalized aerobic bacteria that has been ran through a uv and not ran through a uv under the same environmental conditions, in a lab for meat processing. UV would reduce bacterial loading in a small aquarium which supports water quality even in between great water changes.
UV certainly kills waterborne bacteria, I wasn't advising its use to kill nematodes. seems these little horses can use all the help they can get in captivity...
your tanks look fantastic I enjoyed reading your page.
B

 

There is a big difference in the bacteria growth in water in a meat processing plant compared to trapped water in an aquarium IMO.
I'm not saying there is NO value to a UV, just that the value it adds is not really worth it when husbandry needs still have to be kept above average.
There are seahorse hobbyists using UV all the time, but they seem to have no fewer problems on average than those of us NOT using UV.
I'd suggest that hydroids are not a problem in the seahorse areas because conditions (such as feeding brine shrimp and contained water) are not present to support such infestations.

 

wow, nice seahorse setup!

 

Thanks!

Question for anyone who raises fry - what type of setup would you think would be best? Do you use water from your main and keep doing water changes or do you use a filter and cycle it first?

Mine are doing fine still in the breeding box, but I was curious

 

I found that article about the nutrition of various foods!

Seahorse.org: Seahorse Foods and Feeding

In case anyone wanted to take a look