Effects of different kinds of food on the growth and survival rate of seahorse (Hippocampus kelloggi Jordan and Snyder, 1902) inhabiting in Nha Trang bay

Abstract

The effects of frozen Mysid, Acetes and a combination of these foods on growth and survival rate of cultured seahorse Hippocampus kelloggi were studied. The results show that the seahorse fed on Acetes or Acetes and Mysid combination grew fastest and there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in height between these two treatments, but the height of the seahorse fed on Mysid was the lowest (P <0.05). Similarly to the height, the weight of the seahorse fed on Acetes increased fastest and the lowest was at the second treatment and there was significant difference in weight among the treatments (P<0.05). Specific growth rates (SGR) on height and weight (%/day) of Hippocampus kelloggi fed on Acetes or both of these foods were significantly higher than that of the seahorse fed on Mysid. Survival rate of the seahorse of all the treatments was 100%. In conclusion, this study shows that frozen Acetes or Acetes and Mysid combination can be used for the seahorse commercial aquaculture. Mysid and Acetes are available in Vietnamese sea and their price is lower than that of live food. So these foods can be used as an alternative to live enriched Artemia that fed the seahorse in the past.