Effects of feeding rates on growth and reproductive performance of the hermit crab Clibanarius longitarsus

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the growth performance and reproduction of hermit crabs with different feeding rates. The study was conducted with one experiment designed in 12 plastic tanks of 0.26 m2 with 4 different feeding rates including (i) ad libitum; (ii) 2.0%; (iii) 1.5% and (iv) 1.0% of body weight. Each treatment was replicated 3 times. Hermit crabs of an initial body weight of 0.5±0.2 g and chela length of 9.5±0.08 mm were stocked at a density of 100 inds/tank with a ratio of 1 male :1 female. Salinity of culture water was 20‰. Water parameters including temperature, pH, TAN were regularly checked to guarantee they are within the optimal ranges for the growth of hermit crab. Growth, survival rate and some reproductive characteristics such as maturity ratio, fecundity of the hermit crabs were assessed. In addition, molting status and FCR were also recorded. The results showed that after 120 days, survival rate and mean body weight of hermit crabs in the ad libitum treatment was highest with 80.7% and 0.76 g/inds, respectively and was no significantly different (p>0.05) with 2% treatments. The reproduction rate in treatment of 2% body weight was highest with 3.3%. Besides, lowest FCR was recorded in 1% treatment (4.7) and statistically different compared to the rest treatment