Abstract
The effects of holding space and diet on molt increments and intervals were examined in the West Indian spider crab Mithrax spinosissimus (Lamarck). Juvenile crabs were held individually for 4 months in either 15 or 7.5 cm diameter rings and fed either macroalgae and conch mantle, macroalgae alone or filamentous algae (algal turf). Both holding space and diet affected molt intervals more than molt increments and holding space had a greater influence on both growth parameters than diet. Crabs held in the large rings had shorter molt intervals and greater molt increments than those in small rings. The relative effects of diet on growth were macroalgae and conch mantle > algal turf > macroalgae alone. For some growth parameters, coefficients of variations were larger for treatments that reduced growth than treatments that enhanced growth. After 2 months, some crabs in treatments that adversely affected growth (small ring and no meat supplements) were transferred to large rings and given conch mantle. Growth rates improved for these crabs primarily via reduced molt intervals.
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