Monosex male formation of juvenile redclaw crayfish using natural steroid hormone from gamma sea cucumber and different doses of honey bee

Abstract

In a new commercial commodity aquaculture, tropical freshwater crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus, it is known that female has a slower growth rate than male. One way to increase production rate is through monosex cultures comprising all-male population by using genital reversion technique. This biotechnology method can be applied by using hormones and natural products. The natural hormones extracted from gamma sea cucumber, Stichopus variegatus has bioactive substances including steroid compounds, while honey bee contains chrysin compounds that act as aromatase inhibitors. Therefore, the combination of both substances expected can increase in testosterone level and accelerate production in the male monosex population of juvenile crayfish. The purpose of the study is to determine the most effective dose of honey bee in masculinization of juvenile freshwater crayfish combined with 2 mg. L−1 steroid extract of gamma sea cucumber. Furthermore, a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was designed in the experiment with five different dose of honey bee treatment and dipping method in 2 mg. L−1 steroid extract of gamma sea cucumber for 18 h. Each treatment with four replications. The highest male formation was found in the dose of 20 ml. L− 1 honey bee at 83.75% and the lowest was in control. The present of honey bee at different doses in 2 mg. L−1 of gamma steroid extract did not significantly give an effect on percentage of female, intersex formation, survival, and growth rate of juvenile redclaw crayfish.