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Seahorse Aquaculture

Seahorse Aquaculture. Marie Barton University of Alabama 2013 DISL. Taxonomy. Family: Syngnathidae Hippocampus kuda H. reidi H. erectus H. barbouri H. abdominalis H. breviceps H. comes H. ingens. Captive-bred seahorses first recorded in 2002

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Seahorse Aquaculture

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  1. Seahorse Aquaculture Marie Barton University of Alabama 2013 DISL

  2. Taxonomy • Family: Syngnathidae • Hippocampus kuda • H. reidi • H. erectus • H. barbouri • H. abdominalis • H. breviceps • H. comes • H. ingens • Captive-bred seahorses first recorded in 2002 • In past decade, risen from 1% of total seahorse trade to 99% today

  3. Economic importance, market price, locations, country • Conservation • H. capensisin Hawaii • Mote marine lab • Dried seahorses- traditional medicine • $100-300/kg • Live- ornamental fish • $100-900/animal • Australia, NZ, MX, China, Ireland and UK, India, Indonesia, USA, S. Africa, Thailand, Vietnam • Developed and developing countries

  4. Life cycle & larval stages

  5. ReproductioninCaptivity • Complex mating process • Male courts female with dancing, color change, clicking sounds • Male carries fertilized eggs for 20-30 days • Up to 10 broods/yr • 200-1000 animals/brood • Monogamous

  6. Production Methods • Hatchery: Broodstock are kept in cages in calm bay or indoor tanks • Nursery: 1 day after spawning, fry transferred to tank with biofilter, UV sterilization and ozone • Stocked 1-2/L • Growout: 40 days later, transferred to cages or indoor tanks • Initial density 500/m³, after growth 200/m³

  7. Production methods

  8. Large-scale production in Vietnam Hippocampus comes Fry production tank Adult tank

  9. Feeds and feeding • Larvae eat plankton, juveniles and adults eat small crustaceans, full grown adults need some small fish too • All prefer live food • Expensive • Conservation growers commonly grow plankton for larvae on site • Most commercial aquaculture uses frozen food • Harder to train/wean but if successful, will be hardier • Artemia • Varied diet important to health • Supplements, alternate live and dead/frozen food

  10. Water chemistry and environmental requirements • Pristine water • Salinity: 15-35 ppt • Ammonia and nitrite: 0 ppm • Nitrate: <20 ppm • DO: 6-8 ppm • Temperature • 20-28°C • pH • 8-8.3 • Tall tank • Current flow in part • Floating space

  11. Advantages & Disadvantages • High market value, low production cost • Protected when most vulnerable by male’s pouch • Quick growth in some species • 3-6 months • High fecundity • 1000 babies/brood • Fast gestation • ~8 broods/yr • Some species hardy • Cage raised • Disease susceptible • High risk • Must maintain pristine water conditions if grown indoor • Poor digestion of food • Quick fouling • If stressed at all, no productivity • Easily stressed • Requires much understanding

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