Abstract
This investigation examined the effect of varying feed ratios on cultured seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) growth and survival using frozen mysids (Amblyops kempii) at daily feed rations of 5, 10, 15 or 20% wet body weight. Feeding these different feed rations did not result in any significant difference in seahorse standard length after 3 months. However, seahorses fed the 10–20% rations were heavier and with higher condition factor (CF). Based on the total amount of frozen mysids offered to the seahorses, the food conversion ratio (FCR) became less efficient with increasing feed ration. However, when the actual mysid consumption was factored in there were no significant differences in FCR. There was a significant difference in daily specific growth rate (SGR), with the 5% ration having the lowest SGR. On a cost/benefit basis, based on the total amount of mysids offered the most cost effective ration for daily length and weight increase was the 5% ration. With actual mysid consumption taken into account, cost/benefit value favoured the 5 and 10% feed rations. Survival was 100% across all treatments. Based on this, a feed ration of 5–10% wet body weight per day of frozen mysids is recommended for cultured H. abdominalis
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M.B. Adams M.D. Powell G.J. Purser (2001) ArticleTitleEffect of acute and chronic ammonia and nitrite exposure on oxygen consumption and growth of juvenile big bellied seahorse J. Fish Biol 58 848–860 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb00535.x Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXhslSgurk%3D
S.H. Cho Y.S. Lim J.H. Lee J.K. Lee S. Park S.M. Lee (2003) ArticleTitleEffects of feeding rate and feeding frequency on survival, growthand body composition of Ayu post-larvae Plecoglossus altivelvis J. World Aquacult. Soc 34 IssueID1 85–91
K.S. Dwyer J.A. Brown C. Parrish S.P. Lall (2002) ArticleTitleFeeding frequency affects food consumption, feeding pattern and growth of juvenile yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea) Aquaculture 213 279–292 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0044-8486(02)00224-7
T. Gardner (2003) The copepod/Artemia tradeoff in the captive culture of Hippocampus erectusa vulnerable species in lower New York State J.C. Cato C.L. Brown (Eds) Marine Ornamental Species: Collection, Culture and Conservation Iowa State Press USA 297–303
S.D. Job H.H. Do J.J. Meeuwig H.J. Hall (2002) ArticleTitleCulturing the oceanic seahorseHippocampus kuda Aquaculture 214 333–341 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0044-8486(02)00063-7
R.H. Kuiter (2000) Seahorses, Pipefishes and their Relatives A Comprehensive Guide to the Syngnathiformes TMC Publishing ChorleywoodU.K 240
J. Lockyear H. Kaiser T. Hecht (1997) ArticleTitleStudies on the captive breeding of the Knysna seahorseHippocampus capensis Aquarium Sci. Conserv 1 129–136 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1018395803722
S.A. Lourie A.C.J. Vincent H.J. Hall (1999) Seahorses: an identification guide to the world’s species and their conservation Project Seahorse London, UK 214
A. Mihelakakis T. Yoshimatsu C. Tsolkas (2001) ArticleTitleEffects of feeding rate on growthfeed utilization and body composition of red porgy fingerlings: preliminary results Aquacult. Int 9 237–245 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1015345224537
M.F. Payne (2003) Rearing the coral seahorseHippocampus barbourion live and inert prey J.C. Cato C.L. Brown (Eds) Marine Ornamental Species: Collection, Culture and Conservation Iowa State Press USA 289–296
J. Rabe J.A. Brown (2000) ArticleTitleA pulse feeding strategy for rearing larval fish: an experiment with yellowtail flounder Aquaculture 191 289–302 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0044-8486(00)00434-8
B.-S. Saether M. Jobling (1999) ArticleTitleThe effects of ration level on feed intake and growthand compensatory growth after restricted feeding, in turbot Scophthalmus maximus L Aquacult. Res 30 647–653 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2109.1999.00368.x
A.C.J. Vincent (1996) The International Trade in Seahorses TRAFFIC International CambridgeUnited Kingdom 163
N. Wang R.S. Hayward D.B. Noltie (1998) ArticleTitleEffect of feeding frequency on food consumption, growthsize variation, and feeding pattern of age-0 hybrid sunfish Aquaculture 165 261–267 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0044-8486(98)00266-X
C.D. Webster K.R Thompson A.M. Morgan E.J. Grisby S. Dasgupta (2001) ArticleTitleFeeding frequency affects growthnot fillet composition, of juvenile Sunshine Bass Moronechrysops × M. saxatilis grown in cages J. World Aquacult. Soc 32 IssueID1 79–88
M.K. Wilson A.C.J. Vincent (1998) ArticleTitlePreliminary success in closing the life cycle of exploited seahorse species, Hippocampus spp., in captivity Aquarium Sci. Conserv 2 179–196 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1009629130932
C.M.C. Woods (2000) ArticleTitleImproving initial survival in cultured seahorses, Hippocampus abdominalis Leeson, 1827 (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) Aquaculture 190 377–388 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0044-8486(00)00408-7
C.M.C. Woods (2002) ArticleTitleDiet of the seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis N. Z. J. Mar. Freshwater Res 36 655–660
C.M.C. Woods (2003a) ArticleTitleGrowth and survival of juvenile seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis reared on livefrozen and artificial foods Aquaculture 220 287–298 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0044-8486(02)00227-2
C.M.C. Woods (2003b) ArticleTitleEffects of varying Artemia enrichment on growth and survival of juvenile seahorses, Hippocampus abdominalis Aquaculture 220 537–548 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0044-8486(02)00639-7
C.M.C. Woods (2003c) ArticleTitleEffect of stocking density and gender segregation in rearing the seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis in culture (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) Aquaculture 128 IssueID1–4 167–176 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0044-8486(02)00202-8
C.M.C. Woods F. Valentino (2003) ArticleTitleFrozen mysids as an alternative to live Artemia in culturing seahorses (Hippocampus abdominalis) Aquacult. Res 34 757–763 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2109.2003.00882.x
Woods C.M.C. and Martin-Smith K.M. 2004. Visible implant fluorescent elastomer tagging of the big-bellied seahorseHippocampus abdominalis. Fish. Res. 66: 363–371.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Woods, C. Growth of cultured seahorses (Hippocampus abdominalis) in relation to feed ration. Aquacult Int 13, 305–314 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-004-3100-7
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-004-3100-7