Received: 27-02-2018 / Accepted: 10-02-2019
A study on the effects of lipid levels in formulated feeds for mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) from zoeal 3 stage to instar crablet 1 was conducted in two rearing phases. From zoea 3 to the megalopal stage, the crabs were reared in 120 l composite tanks at salinity of 30‰ and stocking density of 50 Ind./l. From megalopal stage to crablet 1, the crabs were reared in the 50 l plastic tanks at salinity of 26‰ and stocking density of 10 Ind./l. The experiment was set up randomly with five isonitrogenous (53%) diets containing 6%, 8%, 10%, 12% and 14% lipid, and each treatment was done with five replicates. Mud crab larvae were fed experimental feeds combined with Artemianauplii during feeding trial. Results showed that the larval stage index of zoea 3 into zoea 5 stages varied in the range of 4.58-4.96 and the survival of megalopa was 5.45-7.40%, in which the 12% dietary lipid treatment attained highest values and was statistically different (P<0.05) compared to the remaining feeding treatments. Similarly, the highest survival, individual weight and carapace width of crablet 1 were obtained in the dietary lipid level of 12%. These results suggested that formulated diet containing 12% lipid could be considered as the most suitable diet for mud crab from 3 zoeal stage to instar 1 crablet.