Aquaculture of SeahorsesAshley Buhl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lj0CO79jR8

TaxonomyFamily:

SyngnathidaeHippocampus kuda H. abdominalisH. ingensH. barbouriH. comesH. brevicepsH. reidiH. erectus

Economic Importance under threat worldwide traditional Chinese medicine largest threat cures for skin ailments, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, lymph node disorder souvenirs

Market Locations

Market Price

largest markets: North American, Europe, Japan, Taiwan Province of China

$100-$300/kg

Life Cycle/Larval Stageseggs: diameter: 1.2-

1.5 mmgestation: 10-20

dayslength at birth: 8-9

mmlarva development

stops one week before release from pouch

Reproduction in Captivitysexual maturity at

14 weeksspawn 5-8

times/year195-626 eggs/broodfemales transfer

eggs to male pouches

Production Methods UsedHatchery: broodstock

are obtained by 40 cm nets, kept in cages (2 x 2 x 4 m), located in calm sea in a bay or in indoor tanks

Nursery: one day after spawning, the fry are transferred to tank with biofilter, combined with UV and ozone treatment

Grow out: after 40 days, transferred to commercial size in larger indoor tanks (2-4 m3) or outdoor cages

Initially the stocking rate is 500/m3 but is decreased as they grow to 200/m3

Feedingfed from birth to 40

days old with copepods

feeding with enriched Artemia achieves >80% survival

growout: weaned to frozen feed twice per day

Water Chemistrysalinity: 30-35 ppmDO: 4-5 ppmpH: 8-8.3NH3, NO2: 0NO3: <20 ppmtemperature: 20-

28oCcurrent flow, tall

tank

Advantageshigh market value,

low production costquick growth, high

fecundity, fast gestation

Disadvantagessusceptible to

diseasemust maintain

pristine watereasily stressed=no

productivity