Mud crab Scylla tranquebarica culture in earthen pond at Tuticorin

The mud crab, Scylla tranquebarica was cultured in an earthen pond of 0.125 ha in the Karapad hatchery of Tuticorin Centre of CMFRI. They were fed on chicken waste and trash fish and harvested after 273 days of culture. Sampling of crabs was carried out every month by noting their carapace width and weight. The results show an increase in average weight from 133g at stocking to 428.5g after 275 days, with a survival of 23.8%. Low survival was mainly due to poaching as well as cannibalism. The hydrographical parameters during the period was monitored