Biology of Mudcrab

ROSEMARIE CORTEL

PROF. PAUL OPENIANO

 BIOLOGY OF MUDCRAB

SWAMP CRAB
Spawns in the sea larval
carried by tide along the
seashore.
 BIOLOGY OF MUDCRAB

Juveniles migrate into

tidal flats/marshy lands
become sexually mature
first year of its life after
the female undergoes the
precopulatory molt.
 BIOLOGY OF MUDCRAB

At this stage , abdomen of

the female changes from
triangular to broad
rounded form.
 BIOLOGY OF MUDCRAB

Fertilized egg get out of

the ovary/ attached to
pleopods where they
hatch in a few weeks.
 BIOLOGY OF MUDCRAB

Eggs hatched in planktonic

zoea.
After passing through several
zoea stages/ a single
megalopa stage within a
month, larvae metamorphose
to benthic juvenile crab.
 BIOLOGY OF MUDCRAB

Voracious feeder
Crawls in the pond/ seabed
searching for food.
They fed on natural food
such as algae, decaying
animals, crustaeceans or
decaying matter.
 SUITABLE CRAB FARM SITE

Prefers brackish water ponds with

no less than 2m depth of water.
Usual practice of fishpond
operators to stock mudcrab
juveniles in newly constructed or
partially developed fishponds.
 SUITABLE CRAB FARM SITE

In fully developed fishponds,

some operators place
hollowblocks along the dikes.
These blocks serves as refuge or
hideouts when not actively
feeding.
 SUITABLE CRAB FARM SITE

Generally, the most suitable

place for mudcrab culture is
underdeveloped fishponds with
numerous high mounts/
submerged regions which the
animal can take shelter.
 CULTURE METHOD

Culture of Mudcrab only

incidental to Bangus culture,
except in not fully developed
fishponds.
Young crab/ Juvenile stage are
allowed to enter in the pond
during high tide.
 CULTURE METHOD

Seeds are purchased from fry

collectors/ fishermen with size
ranging from 2-7 cm along
carapace length.
Caught by scissor nets {sakag}
along the sandy shores.
 CULTURE METHOD

Young crab when purchase

have no pinchers as they are
removed for ease of
handling/ prevent from
fighting from each other
during transport.
 CULTURE METHOD

Removing a pinchers is not a

problem for they have the
ability to regenerate and
other pair of pinchers will
grow within 3 weeks after
stocking in the ponds.
 POND MANAGEMENT

Mudcrab are usually

cultured along with
Bangus, so pond
management is primarily
for Milkfish.
 POND MANAGEMENT

Developed fishponds, where

alimango is solely cultured
not much preparation on
growing on the natural food
is done but water freshening
is made during high tide.
 POND MANAGEMENT

Developed fishponds, where

alimango is solely cultured
not much preparation on
growing on the natural food
is done but water freshening
is made during high tide.
 POND MANAGEMENT

Aside from feeding on

natural foods, can be given
artificial feeds like trash fish,
kitchen refuse, by products of
slaughterhouses and other
feeds of animal origin.
 HARVESTING

If properly fed can reach

marketable size in 6 months.
Can be harvested using different
kinds of traps like bintol or
liftnets baited with meat/ small
fish or shrimp or by barehands
will do.
 HARVESTING

Only big ones were

harvested/ smaller
ones are set free into
the ponds to attain
bigger sizes.
 MUDCRAB FARMING

Very popular in some

Asian countries
[Bangladesh, India,
Thailand, Philipppines,
etc]
 MUDCRAB FARMING

Mudcrab has huge demand/

price in international market.
Crab is very tasty and many
countries of the world import
huge amount of crabs for
consumption every year.
 MUDCRAB FARMING

It could be a result of huge

possibilities of earning
foreign currencies by
exporting crab.
 MAIN BENEFITS Of CRAB FARMING

1. Labor cost is very low.

2. Production cost is
comparatively lower
3. They grow very fast
 MUDCRAB FARMING
By proper care and
management, we can earn
more from crab farming
business than shrimp
farming.
Commercial crab farming is
developing the lifestyle of the
people in the coastal areas.
 TYPES Of MUDCRAB
GREEN MUDCRAB
1. Are larger in size
2. Can grow to a max size of 22 cm
carapace width.
3. Can weights about 2 kg.
4. Free living and distinguished by
the polygonal markings on all
appendages
 TYPES Of MUDCRAB
RED CLAW
1. Smaller size than green
mudcrab.
2. Can grow to a max size of 12.7
cm carapace width.
3. Can weights about 1.2 kg.
4. Has a burrowing habit
5. No polygonal markings on it.
 MUDCRAB FARMING METHODS
GROW OUT SYSTEM
Young crabs are raise and grown
for a certain period 5-6 months
till they reach marketing size
and weights.
Type of farming is pond based.
Pond size depends on the
production type.
 MUDCRAB FARMING METHODS
GROW OUT SYSTEM
Ponds for crab farming size bet, 0.5 to 2
hectares.
Proper bunds/ tidal water exchange is a
must.
Small size ponds are very suitable for
crab farming for easy maintenance.
Make a suitable fence if the size of the
pond become small.
 MUDCRAB FARMING METHODS
GROW OUT SYSTEM
Larger size ponds where natural
conditions are prevailing,
strengthening is necessary along the
outlet.
Stocking of wild collected juvenile
crabs, ranging from 10-100 grams.
Depending on the size of crabs/
available facilities the duration of
production varies between 3-6 months.
 MUDCRAB FARMING METHODS
FATTENING SYSTEM
Raising soft shelled crabs for a certain
period until their exoskeleton gets
hardened is known as crab fattening
system.
Hard shelled crabs has 4-5 times more
value in the market than soft shelled
crabs..
Farming crabs in this system take less
time and the process is profitable
 MUDCRAB FARMING METHODS
FATTENING SYSTEM
Crab fattening business can be done in
2 systems:
1. Fattening in Pond
Can be done in any types of ponds
between 0.25 to 0.2 hectares size.
Small tidal ponds with a depth of 1-1.5
m is very suitable for crab farming
Prepare pond perfectly before stocking
crabs in the pond.
 MUDCRAB FARMING METHODS
1. Fattening in Pond
Pond preparation can be done by
draining the pond water, sun drying
and adding sufficient quantity of lime.
Make a fence around the pond for
fattening purpose.
Fence off
Reinforce inlet areas with bamboo
matting inside the bund.
 MUDCRAB FARMING METHODS
1. Fattening in Pond
Stocking, collect soft crabs from local
fisherman or crab merchants.
Collect crabs in morning, 1-2 per sq. m.
stocking density.
Divide the pond into different
compartments according to the size of the
crab.
Keeping male/female crabs separated from
each other will make good results and
reduce cannibalism.
 MUDCRAB FARMING METHODS
1. Fattening in Pond
Depending on the location and crabs
availability 8-12 fattening cycles can
be done in a year.
Gen. crab weights bet 300-500 grams
have high demand and value in the
market.
Collect and sell all the crabs when
they reach the marketing weight.
 MUDCRAB FARMING METHODS
1. Fattening in Pond
Always try to sell crabs when
they are in hard shelled
conditions. This will ensure
high profit from crab farming
business.
 MUDCRAB FARMING METHODS
1. Fattening in Pens/Cages
Crab fattening can also be done
in Pens, floating net cages,
bamboo cages and shallow
estuarine waterways/ inside
large shrimp ponds with good
tidal water influx/ tanks.
 MUDCRAB FARMING METHODS
1. Fattening in Pens/Cages
Use bamboo splits, netlon or
HDPE as netting mat.
[3mx2mx1m] ideal cage.
Cages arrange in rows for easy
feeding and monitoring.
Stocking density 10 crabs per sq.
m./5 crabs per sq. m. in pens.
 MUDCRAB FARMING METHODS
1. Fattening in Pens/Cages
Max. stocking density would
lead to mutual attacks and
cannibalism.
Commercial production
fattening in ponds is perfect/
more profitable.
 WATER QUALITY

Water quality plays an

important role in the
production of crabs.
Change water occasionally
if possible or apply proper
medicine/chemicals.
 WATER QUALITY

See the ff. chart

SALINITY 15 25 %
TEMPERATURE 26 30 C
OXYGEN > 3 ppm
pH 7.8 8.5
 FEEDING

Commercial purpose 5-
8% of their body weight
Feed crabs on low-cost
trash fish, chicken waste,
animal innards, brackish
water clams.
 FEEDING

Never serve all the feed at

once, instead give it twice
a day.
Give the major part of the
total feeds during evening.
 MARKETING

After a certain period

check the crabs for their
hardening in grow out
crab farming system they
become suitable for
marketing purpose within
3-6 months of age.
 MARKETING

Fattening system- the

time depends on crab size:
however crabs were
collected when they reach
proper weigh/ price
remain high.
 MARKETING
Collect crabs early morning
hours/ evening hours.
Collect by using scoop nets/
by alluring bait.
Weigh collected crabs with
good brackish water/ remove
all types of dirt and muds.
 MARKETING
Tie the crabs very carefully
w/out breaking its legs.
Keep the harvested crabs in
moist conditions.
Keep away from sunlight:
sunlight has negative effect on
their survival ready to market.

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