1. Marie Barton University of Alabama 2013 DISL
Seahorse Aquaculture
Marie Barton
University of Alabama
2013 DISL

2. Taxonomy Captive-bred seahorses first recorded in 2002
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
99% of internationally traded captivity-bred, live animals

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

4. Life cycle & larval stages
Males carry eggs for days
Larval development stops one week before release from pouch
Juvenile seahorses exit pouch as miniature independent adults

5. Reproduction in Captivity
Complex mating process
Male courts female with dancing, color change, clicking sounds
Male carries fertilized eggs for days
Up to 10 broods/yr
animals/brood
Monogamous
Courting- dance, color change, clicking sounds
Do it with entwined tails and floating- female puts eggs in males belly
Same ritual every morning even after male pregnant
Sexual maturity at 14 weeks

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
Harvested by 40 cm diameter net

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
Estuarium

10. Water chemistry and environmental requirements
Pristine water
Salinity: 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