The effect of temperature, salinity, eyestalk ablation, and limb removal on growth and survival of juvenile paddle crab, Ovalipes trimaculatus (Brachyura: Portunidae).

MARTELLI, ANTONELA; HERNANDEZ MORESINO, RODRIGO D.; BARKI, LOURDES; BARÓN, PEDRO J.

BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE

ROSENSTIEL SCH MAR ATMOS SCI

Lugar: Miami; Año: 2019

0007-4977

Crustacean growth is affected by hormonal processes and natural stressors. For aquaculture purposes, paddle crab (Ovalipes trimaculatus) juveniles were subjected to experimental eyestalk ablation, limb removal, and a combination of 3x3 temperature and salinity conditions. Relative lifetime in captivity (RLC), molting success (MS), molting interval (MI), growth in terms of size and weight after molting (SI and WI), specific growth rate in size (SGRs) and weight (SGRw), and hepatosomatic index (HS) were evaluated in 8-replicate lots of crabs for each treatment (one crab per tank). RLC resulted significantly lower in eyestalk-ablated crabs than in those subjected to limb removal and to the control condition (no organ removal, 13⁰C, 33 psu), and was significantly higher in crabs held at 30 psu than in those maintained at 33 and 27 psu. Combinations of 16° or 19°C and 30 psu provided the optimal conditions for juvenile growth. Experimental results suggest that control of temperature and salinity can improve growth and survival in nurseries of the species. In contrast, organ removal did not promote molting completely in captivity, and seemed to cause high stress in detriment of survival and physiological condition.