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Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences (IJMS) >
IJMS Vol.37 [2008] >
IJMS Vol.37(3) [September 2008] >
| Title: | Evaluation of the seed production and grow out culture of blue swimming crab Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) in India |
| Authors: | Maheswarudu, G
Jose, Josileen
Nair, K R Manmadhan
Arputharaj, M R
Ramakrishna, A |
| Keywords: | Hatchery produced first crab instars
Nursery rearing
Grow-out culture
Shrimp feed
Soft-shell crab and Portunus pelagicus |
| Issue Date: | Sep-2008 |
| Publisher: | CSIR |
| Abstract: | The demand for crabs is more for their delicacy. In view of developing protocol for seed production, nursery rearing and grow-out culture of P. pelagicus, experiments were conducted on the same aspects. Two larval rearing experiments, one at 50 larvae/l density and the other at 100 larvae/l density were conducted to assess the impact of stocking density on survival. Higher survival (10.3 ± 5.76%) from Zoea1 to first crab instar was recorded at lower density than (P < 0.05) that
(1.8 ± 0.91%) of higher density. A nursery rearing experiment (250 first crab instars/t), conducted to measure survival, yielded low survival (8.6 ± 0.91 %) after 15 days due to cannibalism despite provision of shelter and feed ad libitum. The grow-out culture performed in a 0.06 ha earthen pond by stocking first crab instars directly (2.6 first crab instars/m²), to assess survival and growth, yielded 784 kg/ha on day 135 with 32.0% survival and Food Conversion Ratio (FCR) of
1.8. Crab attained commercial size (116 mm CW/112 g. wt.) as well as maturity after 5 months (20 days larval rearing
+ 134 days grow-out). After 135 days live crabs from grow-out can be shifted to recirculation system to produce soft shell crabs that have demand and fetch higher price than that of hard shell crab, to make the crab culture venture economical. The present study is a significant development in bringing out, P. pelagicus as a potential species for aquaculture. |
| Page(s): | 313-321 |
| ISSN: | 0379-5136 |
| Source: | IJMS Vol.37(3) [September 2008]
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