has been found to effectively provide refuge for moulting and post-moult crabs, thus reducing cannibalism among crabs in ponds. The seaweed must be planted in advance. To prevent escape of crabs, each pond is fenced by bamboo or nylon net, and above the water line, a plastic sheet covers the bamboo support. Trash fish is usually fed, at 10% of crab body weight initially, then gradually reduced to 8% and finally 5%. Water management is based on the tides. Selective harvesting is best. Culture period lasts 4-5 months.

Technology profile:

(1) Prepare the mudcrab pond like you would for milkfish in polyculture system or shrimp for monoculture of crabs. Install      nets.
(2) Stock mudcrab juveniles, of size 10-40 g or 5-20 cm carapace breadth, at a rate of 5,000 to 10,000 per ha. It is best to
     stock monosize crabs to obtain a relatively uniform size at the end of the rearing period.
(3) Care for the stock by regularly changing water following the tidal cycle. When crabs cling onto bamboo supports or nets,
     water condition is not favorable.
(4) Feed trash fish, snails, and other locally available materials for the carnivorous crab. Broadcast the feed twice a day. An
     initial feeding rate of 10% of total crab biomass is given, later reduced to 5% as the crabs grow older. They won’t need so      much food once their growth spurt passes.
(5) Select and remove marketable size and “fat” crabs several times over the grow-out culture period: >300 g female and
     >400 g male for pulang alimango or the native crabs, and >400 g female and >500 g male for giant crabs. Selective or
     progressive harvest minimizes competition for food and space and reduces the incidence of cannibalism.
(6) To selectively harvest, scoop up the crabs while they congregate near the pond gate as you let in the water. Crabs swim
     against the current. Then, use lift nets for the remaining crabs as soon as the water levels off.
(7) To harvest totally after the 120-150 days culture period, drain the pond and catch the crabs manually.
(8) Be careful not to damage the crabs, and keep them moist by placing mangrove fronds in the harvest container and
     pouring pond water over them. Tie them up.

Agbayani RF.  2001.  Production economics and marketing of mud crabs in the Philippines. Asian Fisheries Science 14:201-210

Agbayani RF, Baliao DD, Samonte GPB, Tumaliuan RE, Caturao RD.  1990.  Economic feasibility analysis of the monoculture of mudcrab (Scylla serrata) Forsskal.  Aquaculture 91:223-231

Baliao DD, de los Santos MA, Franco NM. 1999. Mudcrab, Scylla spp, production in brackishwater ponds. Aquaculture Extension Manual No. 28, SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, Tigbauan, Iloilo. 14 p

Baliao DD, de los Santos MA, Franco NM. 1999. Pen culture of mudcrab in mangroves. Aquaculture Extension Manual No. 26, SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, Tigbauan, Iloilo. 10 p

Millamena OM, Bangcaya JP.  2001.  Reproductive performance and larval quality of pond-raised Scylla serrata females fed various broodstock diets. Asian Fisheries Science 14:153-159

Mudcrab culture. 1999. A 3-fold flyer downloadable from the SEAFDEC/AQD website www.seafdec.org.ph/publications_downloadable.html

Mudcrab culture. SEAFDEC Asian Aquaculture 19 (3, August 1997): p 10-25

Rodriguez EM, Quinitio ET, Parado-Estepa FD, Millamena OM.  2001.  Culture of Scylla serrata megalopa in brackishwater ponds. Asian Fisheries Science 14:185-189

Rodriguez EM, Triño AT, Minagawa M.  2003.  Diet and harvesting regimen for the production of mudcrab Scylla olivacea in brackish water ponds. Fisheries Science 69:37-42

Triño AT, Millamena OM, Keenan CP.  2001.  Pond culture of the mud crab Scylla serrata (Forskal) fed formulated diet with or without vitamin and mineral supplements. Asian Fisheries Science 14:191-200

Triño AT, Millamena OM, Keenan C.  1999.  Commercial evaluation of monosex pond culture of the mudcrab Scylla serrata species at three stocking densities in the Philippines.  Aquaculture 174:109-118

Triño AT, Rodriguez EM.  2001.  Mud crab fattening in ponds. Asian Fisheries Science 14:211-216

Trino AT, Rodriguez EM, Coniza EB, Juanga BP. 1999. Mudcrab. Aquaculture Extension Manual No. 27, SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, Tigbauan, Iloilo. 34 p

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