GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF MANGROVE CRAB (Scylla serrata) FED WITH DIFFERENT DIETS

The objective of this study was to determine which of the three different diets (trash fish, chicken head, and mussel meat) will give highest growth performance of mangrove crab (Scylla serrata). The study was conducted in one brackish water pond using nine (9) units of cages with a dimension of 1 x 1 x 1 meter per cave. Each cage was subdivided into four compartments with a stocking density of four crabs per cage. Feed was supplied twice daily at 10% of the initial biomass and was adjusted every sampling period. After 60 days, crabs with an initial average body weight of 100g, after being fed with (Treatment I) trash fish, had the highest mean body weight gain with 225.42g, followed by (Treatment II) chicken head with 206.989. Treatment III (mussel meat) had the lowest with 200g. Statistical analysis on mean body weight and mean body weight gain showed that Treatment I was significantly different (P<0.05) with Treatment II and III. Mean FCR in Treatment I, was observed to be the highest with 3.19, followed by Treatment II with 3.72, and Treatment III with 3.48 as the lowest. Statistical analysis showed that Treatment I was significantly different (P<0.05) from Treatment II and III. In mean survival rate, Treatment I had the highest with 92%. Treatment II and Treatment III had the lowest with 83%. Statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference among the treatments (P>0.05) The study revealed that Treatment I (trash fish) accumulated the highest growth. As a result, it is recommended to use trash fish as fed diet for mangrove crab in grow out cages. Treatment II (chicken head) and Treatment III (mussel meat) were also found to be efficient as diets because of their crude protein content. Hence, formulation of feed diets for mangrove crabs with higher crude protein should also be consider to achieve higher growth performance.