Effect of Direct Transfer to Different Salinities on Early Juvenile Pot-bellied Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, Survival in Culture Conditions

摘要

In Tasmania, commercial seahorse culture takes place in tank systems in which approximately 75% of the water is exchanged daily from the Tamar River estuary. The aim of this study was to examine the effect on survival of early juvenile pot-bellied seahorses, Hippocampus abdominalis, directly transferred and cultured for 9d in salinities of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 32g/L. Direct transfer of seahorses to 5g/L salinity resulted in 100% mortality within 7d. After 9d, an improvement in survival was recorded in seahorses cultured in 10 and 15g/L compared to those cultured in 25 and 32g/L salinities. This study is the first to report on the tolerance of H. abdominalis in captivity at salinities as low as 10g/L in early life stages without compromising survival.