Influence of Various Live Feeds on Survival And Intermoult Duration of the Larvae of the Edible Crab, <i>Thalamita Crenata</i> (Latreille)

Abstract

Complete development with 92% survival was observed when the larvae were fed with the mixed diet (DE) of Coscinodiscus sp. and Artemia nauplii in 23.18 days, which was followed by Artemia nauplii (E) alone (89.6%) in 24,95 days, Coscinodiscus sp. (D) alone (2.1%) in 29.11 days, the mixture (ABCDE) of Thalassiothrix longissima, Nitzschia sp., Skeletonema sp. Coscinodiscus sp., and Artemia nauplii (90%) in 25.22 days and the mixture (CD) of Skeletonema sp. and Coscinodiscus sp. (25.6%) in 29.66 days. Incomplete development was observed i.e. upto third zoeal stage, when larvae fed with Thalassiothrix longissima (A) and Nitzschia sp. (B) (12% and 18%) in 12.6 and 14.05 days, respectively. It was followed by Skeletonema sp. (C) and mixture of Thalassiothrix longissima and Nitzschin sp. (AB), Skeletonema sp. and mixture of Thalassiothrix longissima, Nitzschia sp. and Coscinodiscus sp. (ABCD) (16.6%, 13.3% and 18%) in 16.09, 18.77 and 13.64 days, respectively, in which the development is only upto fourth zoeal stage.