Assessment of the approach and potential of mud crab aquaculture

Akpaniteaku RC

Abstract

Many crab species have been redistributed outside their natural mangrove habitats. Mud crabs that are found in aquatic and terrestrial environments and even land adapted ones return to the water to release their larvae.Research works in recent time have not been able to satisfactorily separate a number of genera into species. They undergo series of moults during growth but under immediate and long-term threat due to rapid environmental changes. The investigations into mud crab around the globe are focusing on the aquaculture systems for Scylla, Potamon and Eriocheir species. The Scylla species is most widely cultured and the fastest in terms of system development. The culture systems depend so much on wild seed stock. Insufficient supply of crablets generally has been a limiting factor. The reason perhaps was that the use of insecticide in agriculture could reduce the population of various species. They are omnivorous though; larval rearing may be more difficult than the crustaceans, probably due to sensitivity to bacterial and other parameters of water