Despite its economic importance, aquaculture technology for the blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) is still in its infancy. It is generally accepted that using domesticated broodstock is advantageous due to their adaptation to a captive environment. However, empirical data are lacking on breeding performance of domesticated crabs. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate breeding performance of domesticated female blue swimming crab broodstock relative to wild-caught females. A single-pair mating was performed with six mating combinations: G1×W, W×G1, G2×W, W×G2, G3×W, and W×G3, where W = wild and G1, G2, G3 = domesticated broodstock in generations 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Breeding performance results showed that domesticated females were superior to the wild females for survival rate during mating (mortality range was 8.3±7.2–8.3±14.4 % for domesticated females vs. 33.3±7.2–45.8±14.4 % for wild females), spawning rate (45.8±26.0–58.3±19.1 % vs. 25.0±12.5–29.2±14.4 %), and hatching rate (49.4±17.1–60.5±24.0 % vs. 19.8±21.0–36.9±13.8 %). Total number of zoea produced varied both among domesticated broodstock groups (G1, G2, G3) and between domesticated and wild groups. No significant differences were observed for maturation time, egg development time, fecundity, or survival rate of zoea. The present study clearly demonstrates the superiority of domesticated female blue swimming crab broodstock over wild-caught females.
Keywords
Blue swimming crab, Mating, Portunus pelagicus, Reproductive performance