How to Raise Seahorses? Detailed Explanation of Breeding Methods and Technical Key Points

Seahorses have a curved neck, with a long snout and head, and look similar to horses in appearance. They are a precious traditional Chinese medicine with relatively high economic value. So, how do you raise seahorses?

1. Artificial breeding of broodstock

For seahorses, healthy, intact, large and plump male and female individuals aged 1 year to 2 years can be selected as broodstock. First, raise the male and female broodstock separately in nursery ponds. The nursery area is about 4 sq m to 6 sq m, with a depth of 1.5 m and a width of 2 m, good water quality, and small water temperature fluctuations. Stock 20 to 30 broodstock per sq m, feed live bait such as copepods, amphipods, and mysid shrimp, along with a small amount of artificial fresh bait, feeding 3 to 4 times a day.

2. Water temperature

After a period of intensive rearing, the gonads of the broodstock gradually mature. Male seahorses begin estrus at around 16°C, while female seahorses show estrus only at around 19°C. Therefore, during the cultivation period, artificial heating is needed. When the natural water temperature reaches above 20°C and remains stable, mix males and females for mating, and let them spawn at a ratio of 1:1 by individual.

3. Light

At a water temperature of 15°C and light above 200 Lux, more than 50% of male seahorses begin to show estrus; when light is below 200 Lux, estrus behavior is greatly reduced. During the breeding period, light between 5,000 Lux and 10,000 Lux has a certain effect.

4. Specific gravity

Using seawater with a specific gravity above 1.017 to cultivate broodstock seahorses results in strong bodies, fewer diseases, and a survival rate of more than 80%. At a specific gravity below 1.01, there are many diseases, and the mortality rate is high.

5. Breeding

Male seahorses have a brood pouch on the abdomen, directly in front, or on the side. During mating, the female seahorse releases eggs into the brood pouch, and the male is responsible for fertilizing these eggs. The male seahorse keeps the fertilized eggs in the brood pouch until they develop into form, and only then releases them into the seawater.

Seahorses are not hermaphroditic; it is only the male that incubates them. Every year from May to August is the breeding season for seahorses. During this period, the mother seahorse lays eggs in the brood pouch on the father seahorse's abdomen. After 50-60 days, the young fish are born from the father seahorse's brood pouch, so it is said that the father seahorse is responsible for parenting. Although the father does not actually give birth to the babies, incubation still needs to be completed by the father. The father's brood pouch only serves as an incubator; the eggs still come from the mother. August to September is the peak production period, and fishermen often use lift nets to catch them at this time.