Seahorses, known as Hippocampus, are highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine and are considered a precious herbal ingredient. These unique marine creatures have a flat body with a rounded belly, and their trunk features a distinct seven-angled bone ring. The tail is typically curled and has a four-prism-shaped structure. Their head is horse-like and positioned at a right angle to the body. Male seahorses possess a brood pouch for carrying eggs, and their coloration is usually gray-brown or dark brown.
Biologically, seahorses are small, slow-swimming fish that often curl their tails around seaweed or other structures in shallow waters. They thrive best in temperatures ranging from 12°C to 33°C, with an ideal water temperature of 28°C. They are more adaptable to salinity levels, surviving within a range of 10 to 30 parts per thousand (ppt). Young seedlings, however, require higher salinity, typically above 15 ppt. Dissolved oxygen levels should be maintained at over 3 mg/L, and the pH should be between 6.5 and 8. Their primary diet consists of small crustaceans, and under favorable conditions—such as water temperatures above 20°C—they can breed year-round. During breeding season, mature males release sperm in the morning, while females deposit eggs into the male’s brood pouch. After approximately 8 to 20 days, the young seahorses hatch. With suitable conditions, they grow quickly and can reproduce multiple times a year, producing between 10 and over 1,000 offspring each time. They tend to feed just before dawn.
For aquaculture, seahorse farms typically use cement pools with light black bottoms, partially buried in the ground to maintain stable water temperatures. Outdoor pools need shading. Nursery ponds are small (1–2 m²), while juvenile ponds are larger (2–6 m²) and used for raising young seahorses up to 6 cm. Adult ponds are even bigger (5–20 m²) for growing full-sized seahorses.
Bait includes clams, mussels, and small crustaceans. Live copepods and shrimp are commonly cultured using specific techniques, such as filtering water through 80-mesh screens and maintaining optimal transparency. Feeding practices vary depending on the seahorse’s size and life stage. Juveniles are fed live prey like rotifers and copepods, while adults consume larger organisms such as shrimp and small crabs.
Pro-seahorses are generally reared in low-density environments, with about 20 eggs per cubic meter. Males and females are often kept separately unless they are sexually mature. Proper feeding with high-quality live food is crucial for healthy development. When water temperatures exceed 20°C, males and females can be paired for breeding. Once the male shows signs of carrying eggs, he is moved to a nursery pond for careful care. Seahorses give birth early in the morning, and the process lasts several minutes to over ten minutes. High-quality seedlings are produced quickly, while prolonged births may result in weaker individuals. After birth, the parent seahorse is returned to the main pool to avoid eating the young.
The growth stages of seahorses include the seedling stage (up to 6 cm), the juvenile stage (6–10 cm), and the adult stage (over 10 cm). Stocking density decreases as they grow: 4,000 per cubic meter at 1 cm, 5,000 at 6 cm, 150 at 10 cm, and 30–40 for adults.
Seahorses prefer temperatures between 20°C and 30°C. In winter, they can be kept outdoors with insulation or moved indoors for heating. Water quality must remain clean, with a specific gravity of 1.006–1.022 and a transparency of about 35 cm. Water changes are done daily when temperatures are high and every 2–3 days when it's colder, ensuring minimal temperature fluctuations, especially for young seahorses.
They primarily feed on live bait but can adapt to fresh or frozen food. Juveniles are fed small amounts frequently, while adults are fed twice daily. Bait size varies by age: small plankton for larvae, copepods and shrimp for mid-sized seahorses, and larger crustaceans for adults. They eat during the day, and feeding frequency depends on water temperature and quality.
Harvesting occurs after 1.5 years, with a drying rate exceeding 30%. After washing in fresh water, seahorses are sun-dried for three days. If weather is poor, they can be dried but not baked. To preserve them, they are stored in containers with lime at the bottom, sealed with double plastic film.
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