Authors : Maria Idalia Sandoval-Muy and Benjamin Baron Sevilla
Abstract: Effects of diet on metabolism of cultured aquatic organisms are reflected both in oxygen use and nitrogen excretion. The objective of this work was to study the effects of two frozen natural foods on the oxygen consumption and the ammonia excretion of the Pacific seahorse, Hippocampus ingens, which is distributed throughout the tropical American Pacific Ocean. Routine metabolism and ammonia production were measured in individuals with an average weight of 34.9±1.64 g, at 22 C and 35 � salinity. Seahorses were fed either of two frozen foods, 1) Mysis relicta and 2) Artemia franciscana. Routine metabolic rates of fasted animals previously fed the two diets were 0.037±0.016 and 0.036±0.012 mg O2 h-1 g wet wt and ammonia excretion of 0.0031±0.0023 mg NH3-N h-1 g wet wt and 0.0021±0.0006 mg NH3-N h-1 g wet wt, respectively. Seahorses processing a recent meal of M. relicta had a significant increase in oxygen consumption rate and ammonia excretion (0.058±0.021 mg O2 h-1 g wet wt and 0.0076±0.003 mg NH3-N h-1 g wet wt ., respectively). This effect was somewhat less evident for seahorses fed A. franciscana (0.050±0.019 mg O2 h-1 g wet wt and 0.0025±0.001mg NH3-N h-1 g wet wt). We recommend a mixture of these diets for maintenance of Pacific seahorses in captivity.
Maria Idalia Sandoval-Muy and Benjamin Baron Sevilla , 2007. The Effect of Two Frozen Natural Foods on the Routine Metabolism and Ammonia Excretion of the Pacific Seahorse Hippocampus Ingens . Journal of Fisheries International, 2: 91-98.