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Estimation of Live Food Consumption in the Seahorses Hippocampus barbouri and Hippocampus kuda
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Y.W. Len   , A. Christianus , S. Worachananant , Z. Muta Harah , C.M. Chong |
| Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. |
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Abstract: (11 Views) |
Seahorses inhabit a wide range of marine ecosystems, including seagrass beds, coral reefs, mangroves, and estuaries. Among them, Hippocampus barbouri and Hippocampus kuda are two of the most heavily traded species in the ornamental and traditional medicine markets. Increasing interest in seahorse aquaculture has highlighted the need to improve larval rearing techniques, particularly feeding strategies during early developmental stages. This study investigated live food consumption by newborn, juvenile, and adult stages of H. barbouri and H. kuda under captive conditions. Both species initiated feeding immediately after birth. Newly hatched Artemia nauplii successfully supported the growth and survival of newborn and juvenile seahorses. The results demonstrated a positive relationship between seahorse age and body size (height) and the number of Artemia nauplii consumed per feeding event. At 3 days after birth (DAB), H. barbouri (14.24 ± 0.14 mm) and H. kuda (10.71 ± 0.13 mm) consumed an average of only 7 and 5 nauplii per feeding, respectively. Artemia nauplii were found to be suitable as live feed for H. barbouri from birth to 28 DAB and for H. kuda from birth to 42 DAB. Beyond these stages, larger prey items such as adult Artemia may be more appropriate, particularly for H. barbouri juveniles from 90 DAB onward. The findings provide useful information for optimizing feeding protocols and improving the culture of these commercially important seahorse species.
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| Keywords: Seahorse, Hippocampus barbouri, Hippocampus kuda, live food, Artemia nauplii, larval rearing, feeding requirements |
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Full-Text [PDF 428 kb]
(2 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/06/14 | Accepted: 2026/05/31 | Published: 2026/05/31
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