Growth and elemental composition (C, N, P) during larval developmental stages of mass-cultured swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus

Abstract

The threshold temperature for the swimming crab larvae to metamorphose was 13.4°C. Effective cumulative water temperature (day-degrees) for the hatched larvae to molt to the zoea 2 stage was 43°C; to zoea 3, 72°C; to zoea 4, 103°C; to megalopa, 144°C; and to the first crab stage, 199°C. After each molt the larvae grew exponentially and exhibited a 2.4-2.5 times increase in fresh and dry body weights, C, N, P and energy. A ratio of 25:5:1 of C:N:P was noted in all larval stages. -from Authors