Re:hazy/cloudy water quality

Dear Kay:

When they are courting, seahorses will on rare occasions perform a display known as reciprocal quivering, but I don’t think that’s what you mean when you ask whether or not seahorses "shake." Can you describe the shaking that you are concerned about in more detail, as well as any other unusual symptoms you may have noticed in your seahorses? How long does the shaking last and how often does it occur? Do you ever see the seahorses attempting to scratch themselves with their tails or rubbing up against hitching posts or other objects in the tank as though they are irritated?

How is their breathing rate? Have you noticed any huffing or labored breathing or rapid respirations or other signs of respiratory distress? How is their appetite? Are the seahorses still eating normally?

Also, please check your water quality parameters again immediately and advise me what your current readings are for the following:

Ammonia (NH3/NH4+) =
Nitrite (N02) =
Nitrate (N03) =
pH =
specific gravity or salinity =
water temperature =

I need more information about your current aquarium conditions and water chemistry to see if anything is amiss and should be adjusted, and they need to know more about the seahorses behavior to determine if the shaking is problematic and the seahorses should be treated.

Please get back to me as soon as possible with the additional information, and with a better description, it should be able to tell you if the shaking is an indication of courtship or a symptom of a health problem.

Respectfully,
Pete Giwojna