| The yellow seahorse, Hippocampus kuda Bleeker, belongs to Syngnathidae family,hippocampus genus. In this paper, firstly, the similarities and differences between groups ofwild and farmed seahorse of feeding behavior were studied, then the reaction time, feedingrate and food intake were compared between these two groups, and the feeding behaviorpattern of the seahorse was concluded. We also analyzed the effect of environmental factorssuch as temperature, light intensity, light quality on the feeding behavior and growth of theseahorse. The results showed as follows:1. From feeding behavior observation, there were significantly differences in reactiontime between two groups (wild and farmed) when a single food Artemia and Mysis spp. wasprovided one by one sequentially or group. It was also extremely significant (P<0.01) in thereaction time between group and single bait. During the competitive feeding process, H.kudaincreased food intake, while decreased feeding time, different competitiveness of seahorse hasdifferent feeding area initial. There were significantly different (P<0.05) in food sensitivity,vigilance, feeding rate between wild and farmed groups. when a single meets Artemia group,the reaction time of the wild was10.42±2.71s (n=30), while the farmed was14.71±2.65s(n=30); we compared the feeding rate when a seahorse takes the middle five singlesequentially Artemia, the wild was up to30.11±0.76cm/s (n=18), the farmed was22.47±1.63cm/s (n=18). we concluded the feeding behavior pattern of the seahorse is: Discover-Close-Feed-Swimming; Among the pattern, the differences between the wild and farmed groupswere found that along with the amount of food increases, the time of selected food by thefarmed become shorter, and the total time consumed reduced, however this phenomenon wasnot found from the wild; the farmed group was more swimming in the feeding areas, and thewild was near the security zone. Because of the conditions (feeding reflex point and long cozyenvironment), feeding rate and vigilance of the farmed are reduced.2.In this paper, we had set17℃,23℃,28℃and a natural variable temperature control (CT),to analyze the effect of temperature on the feeding behavior and growth of the seahorse. theresults showed that during a4-week study, the seahorse had extremely significant (P<0.01) inthe body weight gained at23℃than at the other three treatments. The seahorse at28℃groupwas more sensitive (5.8±0.74s), the growth rate:23℃>28℃>17℃> CT. There was nosignificant difference in food intake between28℃a nd23℃, but had extremely significantdifferences with the other two groups, and at23℃the seahorse has a higher survival rate.3. In this paper, we had set20×102Lx,40×102Lx,80×102Lx three light intensity test groupsto analyze the effect of light intensity on the feeding behavior and growth of the seahorse. Theresults showed that during a4-week study,40×102Lx group had extremely significantdifference with the other two groups in weight gain (P<0.01), the growth rate:40×102Lx>80×102Lx>20×102Lx. Except for the first week body length had no differences in eachgroup, the rest of the body length of each group were extremely significant differences(P<0.01). There was significantly different (P<0.01) in food intake of each group, which wasconsistent with the growth rate results, and40×102Lx group has a higher survival rate. 4. In this paper, we had set red, white, blue, green four light colors test groups to analyze theeffect of light quality on the feeding behavior and growth of the seahorse. The results showedthat during a4-week study, white-light group had extremely significant differences with theother three groups in weight gained (P<0.01), the growth rate: white> blue> green> red. Therewas significantly different (P<0.01) in food intake of each group, white> blue> green> redand white group had a higher survival rate. |
