Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm and Tours | Kona Hawaii › Forums › Seahorse Life and Care › new seahorses › Re:new seahorses
Dear toolman:
It’s unfortunate that methylene blue isn’t available in your area, sir. No, there is no substitute for methylene blue when it comes to reversing ammonia and/or nitrite toxicity and converting methhemoglobin back to normal hemoglobin to aid respiration.
However, it sounds like the struggling seahorse is doing much better this morning. It’s encouraging that the new pony is swimming around now, using its prehensile tale to attach to convenient hitching posts, and eating. It appears that the affected seahorse has already regained some of its strength and its likely he’ll continue to recover on his own without the need for an intervention.
You are zebra snouts seahorses are Hippocampus barbouri, commonly known as Barbs for short here in the US. All seahorse keepers are familiar with these thorny beauties. They are the pretty, prickly, tropical seahorses we all used to know and love as Hippocampus histrix until the histrix complex was revised and taxonomists officially changed their name to H. barbouri (Abbott, 2003). They are readily identified by their sharp, very well developed spines, their prominent five-pointed crown, and their boldly striped snouts (Abbott, 2003). The latter is one of their most attractive features and is responsible for one of their common names — the zebra-snout seahorse. Cultured specimens range from pale yellow to a brilliant red-orange, often further adorned with reddish brown spots and lines.
This species produces young that are relatively easy to raise as far as seahorses go, and if you contact me off list ([email protected]), I will be happy to send you a Species Summary on them loaded with information on their requirement requirements, breeding habits, and rearing methods.
Best of luck with your new pet shop ponies, sir!
Happy Trails!
Pete Giwojna