The effect of different feeding schemes on mudcrab <i>Scylla serrata</i> larvae fed with <i>Artemia salina</i>

Abstract

The study on the effect of different feeding schemes of mudcrab Scylla serrata fed with Artemia salina was conducted to identify the zoeal stage of S. serrata where an addition of Artemia to the diet results to higher survival, shorter intermoult duration, higher growth index, and shorter metamorphosis to the megalopa stage. All treatments were fed with Brachionus at a density of 20 ind./ml. Results showed that larvae fed with Artemia from day 0 had consistently high percent survival and this is significantly higher compared to other treatments. This was followed by larvae fed with Artemia at day 3 and at day 6. However, statistical analysis showed that there is no significant difference between the two treatments. Significantly low percent survival was obtained on larvae fed with Artemia at day 9. Results also showed that larvae fed with Artemia at day 0 metamorphosed to megalopa stage after 18 days and obtained the shortest average intermoult duration of 3.6 days and highest growth index of 5 6. This was followed by larvae fed with Artemia at day 3, day 6, and day 9. Artemia has high nutritive value which contributed to high survival, shorter intermoult period, high growth index and shorter metamorphosis period up to the megalopa stage.