Sedating, Force Feeding, Injections and CPR for Seahorses
Written By: Tami Weiss | Date Posted: February 20, 2004 | 4 Comments »Introduction
One particular problem serious seahorse keepers and breeders face is lack of veterinary support. Some vets are willing to try to help, but most turn seahorse keepers away due to lack of aquatic animal experience. The hobbyist is then left with the choice of letting their beloved pets waste away, or attempting to try advanced care techniques themselves. Force feeding may be necessary when a seahorse stops eating. Administering medications by injection may also be the only chance of saving the life of a very sick animal.
This article is for those hobbyists who feel its necessary to go the extra mile in supportive care for their seahorses. The procedures described here are not for everyone and can be dangerous to both human as well as seahorse. It is advised you read the document carefully, and if you decide to attempt these procedures, do so at your own risk. Sometimes even when performed correctly, you can lose an animal due to sheer stress. But there are times when the only hope for survival is to take such risks.
Equipment you will need.
To perform any of these procedures, you’ll need some basic equipment to get started. Most of the equipment you’ll need is the same whether for force feeding or injections.
- Two shallow dishes with tank water. (just shallow enough to cover seahorse ventrally)
- Clove oil
- Small vial or baggy
- One or two iv catheters with the needle removed (one for injections, two for force feeding)
- One or two syringes without needles
- Syringes with needle, 28 gauge or smaller (for injections only).
- Sterile water for injection (for injections only)
- Accurate Scale (Digital is best)
- Air Pump (optional)
From left to right, back row: scale, air pump, sterile water, 28 gauge syringe, syringe and catheter, cup of liquid food, "dummy" seahorse, antibiotic, clove oil, small vial Front Row: Pan with tank water and clove oil, air line, syringe and catheter with fresh seawater, pan with fresh seawater.
I have a question….. I found a beautiful sea horse on the beach on the sand… I tried to return it to the Ocean in Bahia Brazil but it seemed to be drowning so I took it out and tried to revive it at home, sadly it died a few hours later. It is about 6 inches long… had no visible injuries… why do you think this beautiful animal was on the sand and why do you think it died…
I feel sad it died but so is nature…
Thank you,
March 20th, 2009 at 4:59 pmKurt
Its impossible to say, but the fact that you found it on the sand is not a good sign to begin with. Chances are it was already dying and that’s why it washed ashore. Maybe old age, who knows? A six inch seahorse from that area is probable an adult H. reidi. But great job in trying to save it, I’m sure it was better dying in piece rather than baking in the sun.
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:06 amwow, this is great! i never thought something like this exist! been planning to breed seahorses but a friend told me that seahorses are so far hard to breed because they don’t survive long especially in aquariums. i wonder why, must be some kind of a joke…
December 4th, 2009 at 6:18 pmSeahorses can be a challenge to keep in aquariums, especially if you don’t provide them with the appropriate environments. Many people have then attributed the premature death of their seahorse as not being long lived. Most larger species of seahorses live a good 5 years or more.
December 5th, 2009 at 1:57 am