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 In past decade, risen from 1% of total seahorse trade to 99% today

Economic importance, market price, locations, country • • • • Conservation ▫ H. capensis in 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

Life cycle & larval stages

Reproduction in Captivity

• • • • • 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

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

Production methods

• Large-scale production in Vietnam

Hippocampus comes

Fry production tank Adult tank

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

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

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