Preliminary Observation of a Recirculating Aquaculture System for Producing Berried Female Mud Crab (Scylla paramamosain)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30736/grouper.v17i2.507Keywords:
Aquaculture, Blue Economy, Broodstock, Crustacean, ReproductionAbstract
Mud crab aquaculture relies heavily on wild broodstock, while the availability of hatchery-produced seed remains a major constraint to its expansion. This preliminary study explored the feasibility of maintaining and inducing spawning of female Scylla paramamosain broodstock in a recirculating aquaculture system without eyestalk ablation. Five female crabs with mature ovaries at stages III–IV were individually maintained in the system and monitored for survival, development to the berried stage, egg extrusion, and hatching. Two of the five females (40%) spawned and developed into berried females, with egg extrusion occurring on Days 35 and 37 after stocking. One of the two berried females survived to hatching on Day 43, corresponding to 50% of berried females successfully reaching hatching stage. Both females that reached the berried stage were initially classified as having stage IV ovaries, whereas none of the stage III females reached the berried stage. Water quality remained relatively stable throughout the culture period, with temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and ammonia maintained within suitable ranges for mud crab culture. These observations provide preliminary evidence that a recirculating aquaculture system may support reproductive progression of Scylla paramamosain broodstock without eyestalk ablation. However, the small sample size and absence of a control treatment limit definitive conclusions regarding system effectiveness. Further studies with larger sample sizes and appropriate controls are needed to clarify the factors affecting reproductive success.
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