Seahorse Aquaculture

[AQUAholic91]

Myself and another fellow aquaculture student are beginning a project raising seahorses. Before we begin this project, we have a few questions to propose:

-We have debated the best species to begin with as we get our feet wet with this experiment. We have come close to choosing Kuda seahorses. Any thoughts?
-As we research, Seahorse Source seems like the best source for captive bred seahorses. Can anyone comment or suggest another source?
-Tank size. We have research suggesting anywhere from 25-30 gallons for a pair, and upwards of 40 gallons for two pairs. Does this seem correct?

We also have interest in breeding jawfish as well. Since both jawfish and seahorses are quiet, peaceful, creatures can the broodstock be housed in the same tanks?

Thank you in advance for all of your help. I have experience with jawfish and many other marine fish, coral and invertebrates, but no experience at the moment with seahorses. Any additional information you can provide would be fantastic. I would also appreciate any links to additional information. Thank you again. :dance:

 

[Elysia]

Kuda wouldn't be my first choice for seahorse breeding, but I guess it depends on what it is that you are looking for, as you are "aquaculture" students.

Reidi readily produce a lot of offspring, but they are small and need small food that has to be cultured. But culturing things like phyto and rotifers is something that you are likely familiar w/ or are going to need to be familiar w/, so perhaps that would be a rewarding learning experience for you. As far as most hobbyists are concerned, reidi aren't the easiest horses to breed on a small scale.

Fuscus, on the other hand, are reported to have smaller broods of larger horses that usually hitch fairly quickly, and are (theoretically) easier to raise. But the source material is (I believe) genetically limited (which is something you may need to be concerned with as a matter of priniciple for your assignment) and whether they would work on an aquaculture scale ... ? ...

I would think that southern erectus would be the "go-to" species, as there is much known about them, the demand for them is there (many know them as the "sturdy" starter horse), and they are sort of between the two extremes as far as number of juveniles birthed and their degree of difficulty in raising.

Lastly, does Seahorse Source even have kuda available? You may want to take this up with Dan directly, although certainly you will get a lot of good info here and from some of the dedicated seahorse boards. Just don't chose H. comes!

 

[ReefNutPA]

If you've never kept seahorses....and this is your first venture keeping them, I'd personally suggest Southern Erectus as well. I've raised many broods of Erectus now. Tried Kuda myself and just couldn't do it. If you simply want a challenge and don't have your heart set on actually raising any fry, then I'd say try Kuda. BUT...., since your main intent seems to be successfully breeding/raising fry Id' go with S. Erectus.

Additionally.. I would not house the jawfish and seahorses together. IMO, the seahorse fry would be food to the jawfish before you even noticed the male seahorse gave birth.

There is no guarantee your seahorses will breed. Many hobbyists have pairs of seahorses that never reproduce. To give yourself the best chance, I'd suggest keeping just a pair or two of Erectus in a tank by themselves.

Tom

 

[AQUAholic91]

Elysia thank you for your reply. Kudas are not in stock at the moment, however they should be in stock soon. My first choice was Erectus however after researching, I found the Erectus can be a hard horse to raise. Am I misled? I have a steady supply of rotifers and phyto due to the fact that my project is located in the Aquaculture building. Thanks again for your reply, I will look further into the Erectus, as it is my favorite horse! Thanks.

 

[AQUAholic91]

Tom, thank you for the information, can you provide me any useful links? Upon further research, the northern Erectus takes 5 months roughly to sexual maturity, and the southern Erectus takes 9 months to maturity? Can someone comment on the difference between the two aside from location? Also, where would you suggest purchasing these horses? Basically what I am looking for is a seahorse that can be fed frozen foods, has a short sexual maturation, and is highly sought in the hobby. Thanks.

 

[namxas]

N. erectus tend to be smaller, have shorter snouts, and give birth to pelagic fry rather than benthic fry, so they're actually harder to rear than those of S. erectus.

H. barbouri would be a good choice in terms of rearing, but the fry develop even more slowly than S. erectus.

if you want to rear a species nobody seems to have, H. capensis are a super good choice, and are EZ to rear (fast-growing, benthic fry), BUT they're a temperate species (<68*F), and you'll have a tuff time finding brood stock. i used to know a feew peeps who raised them, but nobody i know of seems to have any now.

as Tom and Elysia suggest, i'd get a pair or two of erectus and give it a shot before getting too crazy.

 

[AQUAholic91]

Greg,
Thank you for your advice. I am going to start with a pair or two and gauge my success or lack there of. Then I may continue this route depending on opportunities that become available to me. Thank you for the information on Northern Erectus as compared to Southern Erectus. I do not think I have the capacity to run a chiller, however I will look more in depth at that particular horse. Could you suggest a place to acquire Southern Erectus horses? Thanks.

 

[namxas]

Dan at SH Source has top quality stock, and has even written an article on aquaculturing S. erectus. i'd give you the link, but they kinda frown on that here since it's on another site.

Beth (Peka) has raised some of the sweetest-looking erectus i've seen, so you can hit her up to see if she has any stock. she's a very accomplished hobbyist/breeder.

 

[AQUAholic91]

Thank you for the information. I will be sure to look into that. Any more help you could give me would be appreciated. You have all been very informative. Thanks for your help.

 

[NyReefNoob]

id have to say erectus, only because thats what i have always had, and have now, mine had there first set 1.5 weeks ago and male is prego again. where at in connecticut are you located, something if you could come same or next day id be happy to give you a bunch of fry to try your hand at. really waiting on a few more clutches before i try my hand, plus i need to get some roti's and more bb egg's, i live in upper westchester, ny in peekskill. 10566 lmk rick. btw i have a pair of yellow watchmen gobies with mine and they was happy as crap when babies were born, wasnt home to catch them and trying to lay down a time line when he will drop them

 

[AQUAholic91]

Thanks for the offer. I am currently a student at the University of Maine or I would take you up on that offer. If the offer still stands over my spring break I will definitely get in touch with you with an offer. Let me know how successful you are when the time comes. Thanks again.

 

[Peka]

btw i have a pair of yellow watchmen gobies with mine and they was happy as crap when babies were born, wasnt home to catch them and trying to lay down a time line when he will drop them

You could modify a 2.5 gallon plastic goldfish bowl by cutting a hole in one side and silicone mesh over it. Put it inside your display tank clamped on to the side of it near the top...When you think he is due, put him in there with a hitching post. Just make sure he eats while he is in there. Some horses are comfortable in there and some are not...make the eating your determination as to whether or not to leave him in there.... I also like to shade the bowl if the tank light is shining right on him....Hope that helps...

 

[NyReefNoob]

ty peka, i have something pretty similar already made to do that with, this will only be the second set of fry, so really on a learning curve for time he drops them rot's should be here tomm and starting hatching bb

 

[DanU]

Southern strain of erectus can reach sexual maturity as early as 4 months. Northern variety sooner. Southern strain is easier to rear than northern.

If you have access to pulling articles, there are a few coming out of FIT on rearing H. erectus.

All seahorses can be difficult to rear, especially if you want to do it consistently and profitably.

If you look around and talk with those already involved or were involved in seahorse aquaculture you will find a common theme in that rearing seahorses for profit is very difficult to do successfully. Many places have stopped breeding them and moving on to easier and more profitable species. To succeed commercially, you have got to be real good at breeding, business management and marketing. Starting off small and experimenting is a smart way to go.

If you go forward with it, feel free to give me a call if the need arises. I have helped many other breeders in the past.

Dan

 

[AQUAholic91]

Thanks for your help Dan. At the moment we are just working on a small scale project to get the steps down, while working on a capstone project. I will be sure to get in touch with you when the project comes underway sometime in the spring. Lots of papers to right!

 

[AQUAholic91]

Any other thoughts?

 

[heranatomy]

I suggest attemting to breed Southern H. Erectus initially.
I also agree with your tank specifications.

I disagree with the jawfish/seahorses theory as another user pointed out, that the fry would become food for the jawfish before you ever knew the male gave birth.

Also, try Beth at Seahorse Corral. I've received my erectus from her (although i'm unsure if they're northern or southern), and they are beautiful healthy, sexually mature seahorses. Shoot her an email with your plans and I'm sure she will give her advice/info on her own horses.

Good luck!

 

[AQUAholic91]

Thank you very much!