Gerard Benedict O. Genson, Kristoffer T. Panes, Michael Angelo G. Salvo (February 2003)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to determine the effect of four different types of feed namely mussel, fish, Artemia, and Acetes, on the larval development of mudcrabs. It specifically determined which feed would be most efficient feed for the development of the mudcrab larvae, focusing on the carapace width, carapace length, body weight, and the mortality rate. The independent variables in this study is the type of feed used on the mudcrabs during their larval development, while the dependent variables includes the mortality rate, the final weight and length of mudcrabs fed with the different kinds of feed. This study, employing the Completely Randomized Design, was done at the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), Tigbauan, Iloilo, during the summer of 2002 for nine consecutive days. Each feeding group replicated in four 1-gallon plastic containers. The mean and standard deviation were used for descriptive statistics while the One-Way ANOVA was used for inferential statistics to determine significant difference in the mortality rate, final weight, and final length of the mudcrabs fed with mussel, fish, artemia, and acetes.
The results show that mud crabs fed with mussels registered the highest body weight while those fed with fish had the lowest, but it was noted that no significant difference existed between and among the feed type as far as their effect on body weight of mudcrabs is concerned. For carapace width, those fed with acetes had the highest carapace width, while those fed with fish had the lowest of the four groups. However, no significant difference in the carapace width was noted among mudcrabs fed with different feed types. Among the four groups, those fed with acetes registered the longest carapace. It was also noted that those fed with acetes differed significantly from other groups in terms of carapace length. Also, those fed with acetes showed the lowest mortality rate among the four groups. Their difference in terms of mortality was significantly higher than any other group fed with different fed type. Acetes proved to be the best feed among the four to be used to maximize the growth and development of the mud crab in their larval stage.