CHAMPION the stud seahorse has been upstaged after a love rival produced 150 babies at a Balloch aquarium.

The Australian big-bellied seahorse, named Champion after the Wonderhorse, was brought to Loch Lomond after a worldwide search for a stud.

But today it was revealed he has failed to live up to his reputation as a Casanova and another seahorse at the Sea Life attraction has beaten him in the fatherhood stakes.

A pair of the rare fish, which were brought to the aquarium from the Gulf of Mexico, have given the aquarium its first major seahorse breeding success.

The babies were born in the early hours of Tuesday morning to two Hippocampus reidi, which are commonly known as slender seahorses - a different kind to Champion.

The tiny newborns measure two to three millimetres from head to tail-tip and have been moved to their own nursery tank where they are being fed microscopic plankton.

Aquarium curator Brendan Malone said: "It's very early days and it's highly unlikely that all will survive, but they seem to be feeding well and that's a very encouraging sign."

It's hoped Loch Lomond's seahorse breeding centre will ultimately provide stock for educational displays at other aquariums across Europe operated by Sea Life.

As for Champion, Aquarium spokeswoman Sarah McKeeman said staff were still confident he would win over the females.

She said: "We're hoping he will be successful soon."