Growth and Sexual Maturity of Blue Swimming Crab (Portunus pelagicus Linnaeus, 1758) Reared in Earthen Ponds

Abstract

Growth, sexual maturity and survival rate of larvae of the blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) reared in earthen ponds were studied for 180 days. Results showed that average daily growth (ADG) was 0.05±0.01 cm/day (width) and 0.62±0.01 g/day (weight), specific growth rate (SGR) was 1.32±0.04%/day (width) and 3.95±0.01 %/day (weight), and average survival rate was 36.75±9.49%. Berried female crabs (12.73% all female crab) were found after 90 days of alteration. The berried female crab (P. pelagicus) with a smaller size at maturity than that of the wild stock affected survival rate of zoea stage (1 day after hatching), but not the survival rate of megalopa and first crab stages. This study recommends that female crabs reared in earthen pond for at least 120 days could be used as broodstock.