Effectivity of rearing with difference composition of feed toward body weight gain of mud crab Scylla olivacea in the mangrove area, Tuhaha Village, East Saparua, Central Maluku-Indonesia

Abstract

This study was aimed to determine the level of weight gain of adult mud crabs given different doses of feed at the front of the mangrove area in Tuhaha Bay, Central Maluku Indonesia. Mud crabs (Scylla olivacea) with average initial body weight (BW) of 100.36±8.35g g were placed in a plastic basket measuring 50 x 25 x 17 cm3 which hanging on bamboo raft. Prior to measurement, the crabs were acclimatized for one week at the location with 3% feeding/BW. Treatment with three different fish feed doses i.e., 5% trash fish: 5% mashed raw papaya (Treatment A), 7.5% trash fish: 2.5% mashed raw papaya / BW (Treatment B) and trash fish 10%/BW (Treatment C). Each treatment consisted of 6 individuals as replicates. Data collection includes absolute BW and Specific Growth Rate (SGR). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistic and displayed in tables and graphs. The results showed that mud crabs given treatment A, B and C had an average BW of 95.03±2.84g, 100.22±3.81g and 114.83±2.55g, respectively. Relative BW gain and SGR of treatment B was higher than those of treatment A and treatment C. These results indicated that treatment B is quite effective in meeting the energy needs for increasing the body weight of individual crabs at this location.