This lack of knowledge applies to most species of seahorses. A 2 week old juvenile about 20mm long. The NIWA project has already achieved success. Seven broods of juveniles, ranging in number from 83 to 721, have been produced from adult broodstock collected locally. All broods released have been from adults which had mated in captivity, adding to the achievement.
More broods are imminent because the males readily become pregnant again after each brood.
Although survival of different broods is variable, growth of the juveniles at ambient seawater temperature is encouraging. Adult broodstock are fed microalgae-boosted brine shrimp and amphipods. All food is produced at Mahanga Bay, and is available around the clock, with different sized food offered to the juveniles and adults. We plan to expand NIWA's seahorse project to further investigate aspects of their biology and to develop optimal laboratory culture conditions as well as various grow-out methods. Less intensive grow-out methods, such as sea cages, which can be readily used by existing or developing aquaculture ventures, are of particular interest.