Preliminary observations on breeding and rearing the seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis (Teleostei : Syngnathidae) in captivity
C.M.C. Woods-2000
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater
Research, 34 (3) : 475-485 (from
Current Contents)
Abstract :
A small-scale preliminary investigation into the
breeding and rearing of the seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis Leeson, 1827 in
New Zealand was conducted using 12 wild broodstock. These broodstock were
maintained in a hatchery for breeding and the breeding behaviours exhibited
by these were observed and described. Over a period of 6 months a total of
12 broods of juveniles were produced. These were then raised on a diet
consisting mainly of enriched Artemia for a period of 1 year. After this
period juveniles had reached a mean +/- 1 SE total length of 110.73 +/- 0.13
mm, mean +/- 1 SE wet weight of 3.07 +/- 0.23 g, and were reproductively
mature. The mean +/- 1 SE survival per brood after 1 year was 10.57 +/-
3.49%.