Seahorse may be dying - any advice?

[AmberOwl145]

Hi everyone,

I apologize in advance as I posted in the Seahorse forum earlier today as well, but wanted to just get this visibility in case someone could help lend a hand before my guys die.

I have had two seahorses for 9 months, and nothing significant changed that I can recall. Let me post my params then the issue

Here are my parameters:
33 gallon tank
8.1 pH
Water temperature: 73.4f
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: ~0.03
alkalinity: 11.2 KH (I think I got this right)
ph3 (phosphate): ~0.1

Symptoms
-On Saturday morning, one of my seahorses barely ate, and Saturday evening refused to eat at all. He has not ate since (so it's been almost 3 days now)
-He stays at the bottom of the sand, coiled around the base of a plant as his hitching post, and keeps his head staring down.
-His breathing is very labored; about 71 breaths a minute. Occasionally (about 5-6 times a minute) there will be a long wheezing breath that blows some sand away.
-He will occasionally move to another part of the tank, maybe 1-2 times a day, but it's brief and he remains wheezing afterwards

What I've tried
-I did a 5 gallon water change last Wednesday, and did another 5 gallon one today (Monday)
-I added an airstone and ran it for 30 minutes in addition to my filter

My other seahorse seems to be breathing about regularly, and continues to eat, although with less vigor, and does not appear to come up to the top of the tank either (although the two of them love to be near each other)


I have NO idea what to do here, unfortunately. I also do not have a medical/quarantine tank due to lack of space.

Is there anything I should be doing now, or just let things run their course? I feel terrible if he's going to slowly die over this.

Thank you so much for any help. I'll attach a vide in my reply

 

[AmberOwl145]

So this is my video of the Seahorse.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So this is my video of the Seahorse.

cant see most of the body. . . . But if I see correctly, may be ectoparasites (how I lost ponies several years ago which are in the form of cryptocaryon irritans,or Amyloodinium. They will lose color, breathe heavily and lose their coloration. While freshwater dips will often help with several seahorse issues, it can be risky. Formalin based meds which are impossible to acquire will work as will ruby Rally pro.

 

[AmberOwl145]

cant see most of the body. . . . But if I see correctly, may be ectoparasites (how I lost ponies several years ago which are in the form of cryptocaryon irritans,or Amyloodinium. They will lose color, breathe heavily and lose their coloration. While freshwater dips will often help with several seahorse issues, it can be risky. Formalin based meds which are impossible to acquire will work as will ruby Rally pro.

Thanks so much, if this is the case what do you think I should do? Order Rally Pro now (it arrives by Friday) and you just put it in the tank as per instructions? Do you think I'd have that long?


I also read this:

Formalin is one of the most common and economical chemical treatments for external protozoans and flukes. It is best used as a dip per the instructions of the manufacturer.

Malachite Green is an effective chemical dye that can be used in treating most external parasites. Use as an extended treatment in quarantine per manufacturer's instructions.

Methylene Blue is a common medication with seahorses. Its therapeutic properties lessen some of the stress brought about by disease treatment. Use it as a dip or as a long-term quarantine treatment.

Freshwater Dips are extremely effective against gill flukes. Be sure to match the pH and temperature of the tank's water before proceeding with a dip of this kind.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks so much, if this is the case what do you think I should do? And do they spread? Does a freshwater dip kill the ectoparasites? I think if I have no choice, I should do a freshwater dip or risk losing him, no? Did you ever try that, and any advice for me?

I also read this:

Formalin is one of the most common and economical chemical treatments for external protozoans and flukes. It is best used as a dip per the instructions of the manufacturer.

Malachite Green is an effective chemical dye that can be used in treating most external parasites. Use as an extended treatment in quarantine per manufacturer's instructions.

Methylene Blue is a common medication with seahorses. Its therapeutic properties lessen some of the stress brought about by disease treatment. Use it as a dip or as a long-term quarantine treatment.

Freshwater Dips are extremely effective against gill flukes. Be sure to match the pH and temperature of the tank's water before proceeding with a dip of this kind.

Im leery of methylene blue and Malachite in marine water. FW dip dies work but again, risky

 

[AmberOwl145]

Im leery of methylene blue and Malachite in marine water. FW dip dies work but again, risky

Thanks I ordered Rally and it arrives tomorrow by end of day - was able to escalate it at Amazon. Think if it's been 2-3 days and it arrives tomorrow night and I start treatment tomorrow night there is still hope for me?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks I ordered Rally and it arrives tomorrow by end of day - was able to escalate it at Amazon. Think if it's been 2-3 days and it arrives tomorrow night and I start treatment tomorrow night there is still hope for me?

Hopefully. Add an airstone if you have one

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi everyone,

I apologize in advance as I posted in the Seahorse forum earlier today as well, but wanted to just get this visibility in case someone could help lend a hand before my guys die.

I have had two seahorses for 9 months, and nothing significant changed that I can recall. Let me post my params then the issue

Here are my parameters:
33 gallon tank
8.1 pH
Water temperature: 73.4f
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: ~0.03
alkalinity: 11.2 KH (I think I got this right)
ph3 (phosphate): ~0.1

Symptoms
-On Saturday morning, one of my seahorses barely ate, and Saturday evening refused to eat at all. He has not ate since (so it's been almost 3 days now)
-He stays at the bottom of the sand, coiled around the base of a plant as his hitching post, and keeps his head staring down.
-His breathing is very labored; about 71 breaths a minute. Occasionally (about 5-6 times a minute) there will be a long wheezing breath that blows some sand away.
-He will occasionally move to another part of the tank, maybe 1-2 times a day, but it's brief and he remains wheezing afterwards

What I've tried
-I did a 5 gallon water change last Wednesday, and did another 5 gallon one today (Monday)
-I added an airstone and ran it for 30 minutes in addition to my filter

My other seahorse seems to be breathing about regularly, and continues to eat, although with less vigor, and does not appear to come up to the top of the tank either (although the two of them love to be near each other)


I have NO idea what to do here, unfortunately. I also do not have a medical/quarantine tank due to lack of space.

Is there anything I should be doing now, or just let things run their course? I feel terrible if he's going to slowly die over this.

Thank you so much for any help. I'll attach a vide in my reply

Have you added any new animals to the tank recently?

This appears to be a gill infection (due to the rapid breathing and not eating). Trouble is, it could be protozoan, bacterial, or even flukes (not likely the latter though).

Do you have a treatment tank available?

As you are probably aware, seahorses are delicate and very disease-prone. You've done much better than most people by how long you've kept these already.


Jay