Effect of tank color on the survival of mud crab Scylla serrata larvae

Abstract

The survival rate of mud crab or mangrove crab Scylla serrata larvae was evaluated using black and yellow-painted tanks. About 400,000 zoea 1 were stocked in 6 tons of treated seawater. The larvae were initially fed with rotifers and subsequently with newly hatched Artemia until the megalopa stage. The larval rearing water was enriched with a combination of Spirulina powder and frozen micro-algal products that include Nannochloropsis sp., Tetraselmis sp. and Thallasiosira weissfolgii. After 15 to 17 days of rearing, the larvae successfully molted to megalopa stage. A total of 377,062 megalopae were harvested. Although the survival rate of megalopae was higher in yellow tanks (23.63± 0.03%), it was not significantly different when compared to those in black tanks (15.66±0.02%) (P=0.05).