Vutthichai Oniam. Rearing management to increase survival rate of blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) in earthen pond. Doctoral Degree(Aquaculture). Kasetsart University. Office of the University Library. : Kasetsart University, 2018.
Rearing management to increase survival rate of blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) in earthen pond
Abstract:
The blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) is a commercially important species in Thailand, both in terms of economic value and candidate species for aquaculture. The objectives of this experiment were to improve this crab rearing techniques by investigating the impact of feeding frequency, various shelters, pond bottom soil substrates and crab's gender on cannibalism, crab growth and survival, including develop crab culture model to assess production potential and profitability to encourage crab farming. The overall results showed that feeding frequency of 2 or 4 times per day was optimal for P. pelagicus crab culture and did not affect the quality of water and bottom soil in the crab ponds. The crabs reared with sandy loam or sand as substrates or without soil substrate had higher growth rates than that of the using clay as a substrate. The feed conversion ratio of the crabs reared with clay as substrate was higher than of the sand as the substrate or without soil substrate. The survival rates of the crabs reared with the stems of coconut leaves and 90º bent plastic plates as shelters placed on the bottom of the pond were significantly higher than those with PVC pipes and concrete blocks as shelters, while the presence of these shelters did not promote their growth. The density of the shelters (0 to 5 shelters/m2 ) in the tanks positively affected the survival of this crab, particularly in the rearing period of 30 to 60 days. The advantages of monosex culture of this crab were higher survival and yield in female-only populations as compared to male-only or mixed-sex populations. In addition, the spreadsheet-based analytical model for blue swimming crab culture implementation (S - BSC model) gained from this research would be helpful to further encourage crab culture, and to assess the potential and risk of crab farming.
Kasetsart University. Office of the University Library