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Does the wild‐caught Chinese mitten crab megalopae perform better than the hatchery‐produced seed during the juvenile culture?
Author(s) -
Wu Xugan,
He Jie,
Jiang Xiaodong,
Liu Qing,
Gao Feng,
Cheng Yongxu
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.13661
Subject(s) - biology , eriocheir , juvenile , hatchery , zoology , fishery , chinese mitten crab , gonadosomatic index , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , population , fecundity , demography , sociology
Abstract Although wild Yangtze Eriocheir sinensis juveniles (coin‐sized seed) have better culture performance than the pond‐reared juveniles during the adult crab culture stage, the culture performance of wild‐caught megalopae ( WC ) remains unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to compare the growth, survival rate, crab yield, feed conversion rate ( FCR ), precocity, final weight and size distribution between WC and hatchery‐produced megalopae ( HP ) during the juvenile culture stage. Wild‐caught megalopae had significantly higher body weight, weight gain rate ( WGR ) and specific growth rate ( SGR ) during 0–4 weeks but lower WGR and SGR than HP during 4–8 weeks ( p < .05). Although WC had a significantly lower survival rate and yield of normal juvenile crabs than HP , total yields of normal juveniles and precocious crabs were similar. Wild‐caught megalopae had a significantly higher precocious rate and yield of precocious crabs than HP ( p < .05). Regardless of sex, no significant differences were found in the gonadosomatic index ( GSI ), hepatosomatic index ( HSI ) and final weight of normal juveniles and precocious crabs between WC and HP . As for the size distribution of normal crabs, WC had a higher percentage of small female juveniles (<3 g) but a lower proportion of middle size ranges (3–5.99 g and 6–8.99 g) than HP for females ( p < .05), and there was no significant difference for males. In conclusion, wild megalopae of the Yangtze E. sinensis had worse culture performance than the hatchery‐produced seeds; therefore, wild megalopae would not be recommended for commercially juvenile culture of E. sinensis .