Preliminary Study on the Feeding Regime of Laboratory Reared Mud Crab Larva, Scylla serrata (Forsskal, 1775)

Abstract

Abstract: Survival of larvae of mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forsskal, 1775) is a persistent issue in the field of induced breeding of the species. A preliminary study was conducted on feeding regimes of laboratory reared larvae and juveniles of S. serrata. The results showed that the survival of the larvae fed with green water alone or green water with plankton and feed was not significantly different from the control where no feeding was given. All the larvae died at Zoea 1after 4 days of culture without metamorphose to Zoea 2stage. Larvae fed with green water, rotifer and Artemia nauplii or fed with green water and fed with rotifer, artificial plankton, prepared diet and Artemia nauplii showed similar results with growth and metamorphosis of the larvae reared in green water and fed with Artemia nauplii. The larvae reared in green water, rotifer and Artemia nauplii showed better survival rate of Zoea compared to larvae reared in green water and Artemia nauplii but the latter only metamorphosed to Crab 1 Stage. Further researches are proposed to evaluate differential nutritional composition of the live feeds to support the life of mud crab larvae.