Developmenet of feeding schedule for blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus larvae based on fatty acid content of selected microalgae

Abstract

This study was aimed to develop feeding schedule for blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus larvae based on fatty acid content of selected microalgae via variable fatty acid composition in wild and reared larvae, ingestion rate, percentage survival, Larval Stage Index (LSI) and Specific Growth Rate (SGR) analysis. Berried crab samples were collected from the natural habitat of Setiu wetland, Terengganu, from May to July 2013. The broodstock were fed with blood cockle, Anadara granosa until hatching. This experiment were used four different species of microalgae which are Chaetoceros sp., Chlorella sp., Isochrysis sp., and Nannochloropsis sp. Major fatty acid (FA) composition detected in larval stages of wild sample in Zoea 1 is stearic acids. For Zoea 2 is palmitic acid whereas for Zoea 3 is EPA and for Zoea 4 is linoleic acid respectively.