Dear Erik:
Sure, if you want to add a drop of garlic extract to the frozen Mysis as an odor attractant and appetite stimulant, that’s just fine. There are a lot of seahorse keepers who resort to the ol’ garlic trick now and then and I have never heard that it has had any adverse effect on their ponies. It might be helpful in your situation since Brazilian seahorses (Hippocampus reidi) are notoriously finicky eaters.
You’re quite correct — firefish and Royal Grammas are normally very calm, easy-going fish that are slow, deliberate feeders but they are sure more than willing to make an exception for live Mysis shrimp! If they are claiming the lion’s share of the live Mysis, relocating them to one of your other tanks so your H. reidi can fatten up a bit on the live food makes a lot of sense.
That would clear the way for you to add another H. reidi and a pair of Mustangs (H. erectus) if you like, and then the seahorses would certainly only have to compete among themselves for the live Mysis. That is certainly a viable option and I don’t see any reason not to give it a try, sir.
Best wishes with all your fishes, Erik!
Happy Trails!
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.
