Shellfish Breeding and Hatchery Management (2+1)

7.1.1 Introduction

 

In general, the crustacean eggs hatch to produce nauplius larva which is free swimming. It is not always true as in some cases the nauplius stage is passed within the eggs so that there is no free swimming nauplius larva produced after hatching, E.g. freshwater prawns, cray fishes, crabs, etc. In such animals, the freshly hatched out larvae are called Zoea and these larvae will be taking food immediately after hatching and their development is faster than other stages. But the risk is that in the absence of feed, they may become canibals or die of starvation.