Onset of sexual maturity in captivereared endangered Indian seahorse, Hippocampus kuda

The endangered Indian seahorse, Hippocampus kuda successfully reared in captive conditions for more than two years, repeatedly spawned and produced F2 generations. In F1 males, brood pouch started developingfrom 55 to 60 days of birth. The courtship behaviour was noted 30 days subsequently and males started receiving eggs in their pouch when their body length attained 101.0 ± 2.0 mm. Females started transferring eggs into the male brood pouch when their body length reached 110.0 ± 2.0 mm. The sexual maturity of male was earlier than that of female. Compared to the age (in days), the size was inferred as a reliable factor to predict the onset of maturity in this species