Dear saltfreak:
As I mentioned, the gestation period for H. erectus can vary considerably depending on quite a number of different factors. Many times gestation is indeed around 14 days, but when the gestation period is prolonged for one reason or another, it tends to last roughly twice as long, or around 28 days or so. I believe this is an adaptation that helps synchronize parturition with the highest tides, thereby helping to disperse a large broods of pelagic H. erectus fry. When you lump them together and consider the specimens that normally deliver after 14 days and those that take around 28 days to deliver a brood, the average gestation period for H. erectus is about 20-21 days (+/- 10 days). In the literature, the gestation period for this species has been recorded at anywhere from 11 days to over 30 days in length.
It sounds like your male is getting plenty to eat, sir. I do prefer Vibrance 1 (the high-fat formulation) for pregnant seahorses and seahorses that are breeding regularly and can benefit from the additional calories.
The two different Vibrance formulations are intended for entirely different purposes. The lipid-rich formulation (Vibrance I) was designed for enriching live foods that are low in lipids or fat content, such as brine shrimp (Artemia spp.), whereas the low-fat formulation (Vibrance II) was designed to enrich frozen Mysis which are naturally rich in HUFAs, thereby protecting adult seahorses from hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease).
Among other things, Vibrance II includes beta-glucan, pure Astaxanthin, carotenoids, water-soluble vitamin C, and various other vitamins and minerals in the proper proportions. It is a no-fat formulation intended for enriching frozen Mysis. As such, it’s perfect for fortifying frozen Mysis, further enhancing their nutritional value while safeguarding against fatty liver disease.
The original Vibrance (i.e., Vibrance I) is a lipid-rich formula including beta-glucan, the proper balance of long chain fatty acids (DHA and EPA) derived from natural schizochytrium algae, and color-enhancing carotenoids, all combined with just the right amount of vitamins, minerals and water-soluble stabilized vitamin C. It is perfect for enriching live foods with poor nutritional value that are naturally low in lipids, such as adult Artemia.
Personally, aside from enriching live foods, I prefer the high-fat formula (Vibrance I) for young seahorses that are still growing, and for adult seahorses that are actively breeding, churning out brood after brood, since they need all the calories and energy they can get. On the other hand, I like the low-fat formula (Vibrance II) for mature seahorses that are no longer breeding. This includes younger adults that are taking a break from breeding during the off-season, unpaired adults that have no mates at the moment, and older individuals that have been retired and put out to pasture. No longer growing and no longer producing clutch after clutch of eggs (or nourishing a pouch full of babies, in the case of males), these older specimens don’t need as much fat in their diets. Switching them to a low-fat formulation can help protect them from age-related conditions such as fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis).
Vibrance I, the high-fat formulation, is ideal for enriching newly-hatched brine shrimp that will be fed seahorse fry, so it’s especially useful for hobbyists that are into breeding and rearing their seahorses.
That was good thinking to get a suitable nursery tank up and running well ahead of time, saltfreak. It’s always better to be prepared and have a nursery set up in case you need it, rather than to have no nursery tank running and then suddenly find that you need one. Here’s hoping your nursery is soon filled with healthy H. erectus fry, sir!
Respectfully,
Pete Giwojna
Ocean Rider, Inc. is an Organic Hawaiian-Based Seahorse Aqua-Farm & Aquarium that Follows Strict Good Farming Practices in Raising Seahorses and Other Aquatic Life.
