Evaluation of VI-alpha and PIT-tagging of the seahorse <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hippocampus abdominalis</Emphasis>

The suitability of visible implant alphanumeric (VI-alpha) and passive integrated transponder (PIT)-tagging to individually identify seahorses (Hippocampus abdominalis) was assessed in two trials. For each trial, 24 seahorses were tagged and mortality, growth, tag retention and tag visibility/readability assessed, together with 24 control seahorses, over a period of 3 months. For VI-alpha tagging, a single tag was inserted under the skin between the first two anterior lateral tail rings of the seahorses. There was no difference in final seahorse length, wet weight, or mean SGR in tagged seahorses, compared with control seahorses, after 3 months. Tag retention was 100%, as was survival, in both treatments. Tag detection with the naked eye was generally poor but improved using LED blue light. However, readability of tag codes was highly variable and insufficiently reliable for VI-alpha to be suitable for identification of individual seahorses. In PIT-tagged seahorses, a single FDX-B transponder was inserted into the abdominal cavity of seahorses. There was also no difference in final seahorse length, wet weight, or mean SGR, compared with control seahorses, after 3 months. Tag retention was also 100%, as was survival in both treatments. Readability of transponders was reliable and quick using a compact reader. PIT-tagging is considered suitable for individual identification of large H. abdominalis.     

Growth of cultured seahorses (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hippocampus abdominalis</Emphasis>) in relation to feed ration

This investigation examined the effect of varying feed ratios on cultured seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) growth and survival using frozen mysids (Amblyops kempii) at daily feed rations of 5, 10, 15 or 20% wet body weight. Feeding these different feed rations did not result in any significant difference in seahorse standard length after 3 months. However, seahorses fed the 10–20% rations were heavier and with higher condition factor (CF). Based on the total amount of frozen mysids offered to the seahorses, the food conversion ratio (FCR) became less efficient with increasing feed ration. However, when the actual mysid consumption was factored in there were no significant differences in FCR. There was a significant difference in daily specific growth rate (SGR), with the 5% ration having the lowest SGR. On a cost/benefit basis, based on the total amount of mysids offered the most cost effective ration for daily length and weight increase was the 5% ration. With actual mysid consumption taken into account, cost/benefit value favoured the 5 and 10% feed rations. Survival was 100% across all treatments. Based on this, a feed ration of 5–10% wet body weight per day of frozen mysids is recommended for cultured H. abdominalis     

Seahorse declines in the Derwent estuary, Tasmania in the absence of fishing pressure

Seahorses have the potential to be flagship species for estuarine conservation around the world and considerable concern has arisen over their declining abundance in the face of exploitation. All seahorses were recently listed on CITES Appendix II in recognition of threats posed by unsustainable trade. However, the efficacy of this measure and the development of other effective conservation solutions will require an understanding of natural seahorse population dynamics at relevant ecological scales. In this study, we provide quantitative data on seahorse populations over nested spatial and temporal scales up to 10 km and 3.5 years. Unexploited populations of the big-bellied seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) in the Derwent estuary, Tasmania, Australia consisted largely of mature adults with highly female-biased sex ratios at all sites. While big-bellied seahorses had an aggregated distribution at the spatial scale of our transects (200 m²), most individuals were found alone. When they occurred in groups, the distribution of individuals was random with respect to sex in contrast to the pair bonds found in other seahorse species. All three monitored populations showed significant declines in abundance of 79-98% over the period 2001-2004. Estuarine physicochemical conditions did not change markedly during this period. Possible causes of seahorse declines are interactions with invasive species, disease or reproductive limitation through Allee effects. The magnitude of the declines in the absence of direct exploitation demonstrates that seahorses face multiple threats. Robust fisheries-independent monitoring will be required to demonstrate that conservation actions such as CITES listing are effective.     

Effects of varying Artemia enrichment on growth and survival of juvenile seahorses, Hippocampus abdominalis

Seahorses are the focus of recent aquaculture ventures in a variety of countries. Many of these ventures utilise enriched live Artemia (to varying degrees) to feed their seahorses. Given the range of commercially available enrichment products that can be used to enrich Artemia, it is imperative to determine which of these may promote the best growth and survival in seahorses, as well as being most cost-effective. This investigation tested the effects on juvenile seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis Leeson, 1827) growth and survival through enriching Artemia with three commercial enrichment products: Super Selco®, DHA Protein Selco® and Algamac-3050. These were tested against a low-cost Artemia on-growing mixture used in this instance as an enrichment (90% Eyre Peninsula Aquaculture brine shrimp food (EPABSF)/10% spirulina).

After 3 months, there was a significant difference in juvenile length between the enrichment treatments, with juveniles in the DHA Protein Selco® and Algamac-3050 treatment longer than juveniles in the Super Selco® treatment, but not longer than juveniles in the EPABSF/spirulina treatment. There was also a significant difference in juvenile wet weights between the treatments, with juveniles in the Super Selco® treatment weighing significantly less than juveniles in the other three treatments.

In terms of condition factor (CF), there was a slight significant difference between the treatments, with juveniles in the DHA Protein Selco® and EPABSF/spirulina treatment having higher CFs than juveniles in the Super Selco® treatment, but not the Algamac-3050 treatment. Mean daily specific growth rate (SGR) for Super Selco® was lower than the other three treatments. There was no effect of enrichment treatment on seahorse survival with 100% survival in all four treatments.

Fatty acid analysis revealed marked differences in the Artemia enriched with the various enrichment products. Super Selco®- and Algamac-3050-enriched Artemia had the highest percentage of docosahexanoic acid (DHA), 22:6(n−3), while Super Selco®-enriched Artemia had the highest percentage of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 20:5(n−3). EPABSF/spirulina-enriched Artemia had the highest percentages of C18 fatty acids. Percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and n−3 PUFAs were highest in Super Selco®- and Algamac-3050-enriched Artemia. Proximate analysis revealed little difference among all four enrichment treatments in terms of protein, fat and carbohydrate levels.

The results from this experiment demonstrate that when culturing H. abdominalis, all three commercial enrichment products produce good seahorse growth and excellent survival. However, on a cost/benefit basis, all three commercial products were outperformed by the cheaper Artemia on-growing mixture (EPABSF/spirulina).     

Harbour swimming nets: a novel habitat for seahorses

• 1. Artificial structures are becoming increasingly important in conserving biodiversity in urban ecosystems, by providing habitat for endangered or rare species. Their role in providing habitat for such species has, however, been largely unexplored.
• 2. In Sydney Harbour, Australia, seahorses were observed among the netting used to keep sharks out of swimming enclosures. Over a 2‐year period, the relative densities of two species of seahorses observed on netting was measured at swimming enclosures with permanent netting and at swimming areas that were only enclosed with netting during the summer months.
• 3. The rate of colonization by seahorses to new netting was also examined over a period of 10 months.
• 4. Numbers of seahorses on permanent swimming enclosures were 10 to 100 times greater than numbers present on swimming enclosures that were only set up during the summer months.
• 5. This large difference may have been attributed to the slow rate of colonization of seahorses to new habitat. Seahorses were not observed at experimental nets that were deployed in two areas in the harbour until at least 4 months after the netting was deployed.
• 6. Swimming pool nets are a habitat for species of seahorses in Sydney Harbour and, consequently, the removal or disturbance of swimming nets may impact the survival of these fish. Management of these artificial habitats may therefore best be focused on providing a permanent habitat that may help to compensate for the loss of netting during winter months.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spontaneous neoplasia in captive syngnathid species: A retrospective case series (2003–2014) and literature review

Syngnathidae (seahorses, pipefish and seadragons) are charismatic species commonly kept in commercial aquaria, but published literature on syngnathid diseases is limited and immunohistochemical techniques not routinely employed. A retrospective review of 2,541 syngnathid submissions received between March 2003 and October 2016 identified 18 neoplasms including germ cell tumours, exocrine pancreatic and intestinal carcinomas, chromatophoromas, and single cases of lymphoma, thyroid and renal carcinoma, swim bladder and pituitary adenoma. Big-bellied seahorses accounted for 19% of submissions, but 50% of neoplasms were diagnosed in this species. This study includes the first reported cases of germ cell tumours, chromatophoroma, thyroid carcinoma and pituitary adenoma in Syngnathidae and the first reports of neoplasia in pipefish species. Out of nine commercial antibodies trialled for immunohistochemical characterization of neoplastic tissue, only pan-cytokeratin proved cross-reactive. Electron microscopy was performed in four cases. Tumours should be considered as differential diagnosis in cases with buoyancy issues, debilitated or emaciated animals, and may predispose to secondary infections. This study highlights the value of histopathological disease surveillance for commercial aquarium settings.