Reply To: Seahorse not eating and perching at bottom all day

Pbohus:

I am sorry to hear about the problems you have been having with your seahorses. All my condolences on the loss of your male.

From the listless behavior of your female and lack of appetite, I am concerned that she may be suffering some ill effects from the same infection which caused the demise of your male.

I would suggest treating your female in an isolation tank or quarantine tank using kanamycin sulfate, a broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic that is very effective in treating infections in seahorses because it is absorbed readily through their skin and gills. You should be able to find a medication whose active ingredient is kanamycin sulfate at your local fish store.

Kanamycin can be detrimental to your biological filtration, which is why I recommend using it in a treatment tank or isolation tank. Perhaps the side tank you mentioned would make a good treatment tank? If not, let me know right away and I will explain how you can easily set up a simple makeshift hospital tank that should serve you nicely.

While you are treating your female with the kanamycin sulfate antibiotic, please continue to tempt her to eat using the live Mysis shrimp or live adult brine shrimp, if possible. That was very good thinking on your part!

Good luck.

Respectfully,
Pete Giwojna, Ocean Rider Tech Support