Marine amphipods (Parhyale hawaiensis) as an alternative feed for the lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus, Perri 1810): nutritional value and feeding trial

Abstract

Finding new alternatives to traditional live preys such as Artemia and rotifers, which do not always promote optimal fish growth and survival, is required for the successful aquaculture of highly specialized predatory species, including seahorses. The present study assessed the nutritional value of an interesting marine amphipod (Parhyale hawaiensis), and evaluates through a feeding trial its potential use as a natural prey for 10-months lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus. P. hawaiensis showed high levels of valuable lipids (20.4–26.7% on dry matter basis) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ( 26.4–41% of total FAs), including the long-chain PUFAs (LC-PUFAs) arachidonic acid (ARA) (2.9–7.7%), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (4.3–6.5%) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (2.1–6.2%). A comparison between wild-captured and cultured amphipods revealed a significant improvement of the amphipod FA profile in terms of DHA%, total omega-3 (n3) FAs and n3/n6 ratio when employing both a conventional amphipod culture based on a commercial shrimp diet, and, to a lesser extent, a large (3,500 L) biofloc system. Seahorses fed with frozen/wild amphipods, either singly or in combination with Artemia enriched with Super Selco® (INVE Aquaculture, Belgium) for 57 days, substantially improved seahorse growth and FA profiles in terms of ARA, EPA and DHA%, including indices associated to marine sources, such as Σn3 and n3/n6, compared to a diet based solely on enriched Artemia. These results support the use of marine amphipods as an alternative food organism for juvenile H. erectus and suggest a potential use for general marine aquaculture.

Comprehensive biochemical analysis and nutritional evaluation of fatty acid and amino acid profiles in eight seahorse species (Hippocampus spp.)

“…The study on Hippocampus comes compared cultured versus wild specimens [ 36 ], whereas our research does not limit the comparison to cultured and wild but rather focuses on the inherent biochemical differences among species. Additionally, while the investigation into marine amphipods as an alternative feed for Hippocampus erectus examined dietary effects on a single species [ 18 ], our study's broader species range offers foundational data for future studies on diet and nutrition across different seahorse species. Research on the proximate composition and fatty acids of seahorses from Simeulue provided valuable regional data but did not include amino acid profiling [ 16 ].…”

“…For instance, Abdullah Abbas et al provided data on proximate composition and fatty acids but lacked amino acid profiling [ 16 ]. (3) Reproductive and Gender Differences: Previous studies often did not differentiate between genders or reproductive statuses [ 1 , 17 , 18 ]. By addressing these limitations, our study significantly broadens the understanding of seahorse biochemistry and nutrition, paving the way for more detailed and comprehensive future research.…”

Life history and population dynamics of the enigmatic tanaid Chondrochelia dubia (Tanaidacea: Leptocheliidae) in a tropical seaweed bed

“…Growth parameters such as Φ' are often used as an important reference for stock management and choosing appropriate species for aquaculture (Mathews and Samuel 1990, Pauly and Munro 1984, Zamora-Sarabia et al 2022. Because peracarids have been recently studied as a valuable food resource for aquaculture (Abundez et al 2021, Guevara et al 2005, the present study should be taken into consideration for future decisions regarding the commercial use of this species.…”