Poor seahorse! Down to four! :(

As anyone that reads my threads is aware, I bought five H. erectus seahorses. They are extremely healthy and were eating great when I bought them. They were already trained to accept frozen Mysis and I continued that food.
I decided to add copepods-Tisbe-worked great!
Then I added ghost/glass shrimp-another winner!
However, what I hadn't counted on was one of the seahorses trying to pursue a shrimp into an artificial plant and becoming entangled!
My husband feeds during the day and then I feed at night. On Monday morning he only saw four horses but didn't think this important-I probably wouldn't have either! When I fed on Monday night, they were not all there again. So, I mentioned this to the hubs, and he responded stating he hadn't seen all four eating together.
I decided to explore and at the back of the tank in a corner entwined with the fake plant-there he was sort of wedged in and looking bad. I removed him to a hospital tank and attempted to feed him. He was too far gone and could not eat-we lost him.
So, I now have four babies. All continue to eat well and appear healthy. It makes me sad that I hadn't identified the plant as a problem. It was sort of lacy and I thought it would work but unfortunately for the seahorse, it turned out to be a death trap!

I am preserving the seahorse and intend to either make it a piece of jewelry or to make it a hang for my car, even in death it is beautiful!

 

I am sorry you lost one. That is something I never would have thought about>...Alison

 

I'm so sorry Claire.

 

I'm so sorry! Who would have thought this could happen.
I agree, even dead it's beautiful, sad you lost it this way.

 

Awe...I'm sorry.

 

That stinks Clair.

I didn't realize you'd have to be careful with fake plants with seahorses.

 

Sorry for your loss Claire !!!

 

So sorry Claire. Was it due to the stress of being tangled because he/she looks in perfect shape-no injuries.
Such a freak thing to happen, who would have thought that?

 

Thanks Guys! foxhill2, he was in perfect shape! When I found it he was tangled in the thing and I had to work to get him out. Not sure if it was the stress or what! I put him in a hospital tank-he could not stay upright and I tried to feed him but he wouldn't take the food, he seemed weak and then he just laid down and that was it. My husband found him after I left for work, he looked just like he looks now!

 

I'm sorry for your loss Claire.

 

I'm sorry

 

So very sad. We have also lost little ones over the years to things we had no idea were harmful.

 

HI Clair, so sorry about your little pony. Do you think you could upload a picture of the plant so we could see how similar ones might be a problem?

 

Sure TracyH67,

 

Thank you, Clair. I would have pick that one myself, would have thought that a good choice. What a bummer.

 

TracyH67, the only thing I can figure out is that it was so stiff that once he went into it far enough, he could not maneuver to get out/turn around. I took it out immediately and now I just have silk and small plastic, plus live and these:

 

So sorry but a good lesson to anyone keeping or considering seahorses.

 

I've been looking for that exact one! thank you!! BTW, I have recently switched to the vodka (Bacter7 didn't work) so I might have my ponies by Thxgiving...

 

TracyH67-Just to let you know it is huge and heavy but beautiful. I cut mine and made two-four total as I purchased two!
Glad you will be getting them soon!