FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE,MOA,TAIWAN

Cultured copepod, enriched Artemia nauplii, Artemia nauplii, and artificial feed were fed to make comparision of the growth and survival of newborn Hippocampus kuda. After a 28-day rearing period, the survival of Hippocampus kuda juveniles fed copepod was 85.67 ± 1.16%, and was significantly higher than those fed enriched Artemia nauplii (45.00 ± 5.00%), Artemia nauplii (26.67 ± 6.11%), and artificial feed (all seahorses were dead within 7 days). The survival of juveniles fed enriched Artemia was significantly higher than those fed unenriched Artemia. The mean body height of juveniles fed copepod (46.94 ± 2.83 mm) was also significantly higher than those fed enriched Artemia nauplii (26.60 ± 3.17 mm) and unenriched Artemia (24.53 ± 3.01 mm). Similarly, the mean body height was significantly higher in juveniles fed enriched Artemia than fed unenriched Artemia. Based on the results of this study, the cultured copepod is better than the enriched Artemia nauplii, in terms of palatability and nutrient value, however, current artificial feed cannot substitute the living feeds.