Shellfish Breeding and Hatchery Management (2+1)

10.2.4 Feeds and feeding schedules

Animal flesh such as bivalve meat and squid meat which contain high protein levels may be used as maturation diets for crabs. The rate of feeding should be 8-10% of stocked biomass. The daily ration may be divided into two equal quantities and offered twice a day, one in the morning and another in the evening with 12hrs time interval. The crabs should be fed to their satiation.

Studies on the food and feeding habits of wild S. serrata have shown that the main food items included the remains of crustacean (44.3%) molluscs (14.3%) and others (19.1%). Therefore a feed dominating with animal matter is essential for the health and breeding performance of the crabs.

Pellet feeds are also found to be useful with limited success.