Ovarian morphological development and fatty acids profile of mud crab (Scylla olivacea) fed with various diets

- Morphological changes of captive mud crab ovarian development has similar characteristic compared to the wild caught crab
- Cockle-fed crabs showed broader value of FA compositions at early maturation compared to wild caught and fish-fed crabs
- Wild caught crabs had significantly widest FA composition at late maturation compared to cockle-fed and fish-fed crabs

This study aimed to determine the effects of different diets on morphological development and fatty acids profile of different ovarian developmental stages of mud crab Scylla olivacea. Captive crabs were fed with two different diets; blood cockle Anadara granosa and fish, Decapterus sp. Through the morphological examinations, ovarian maturation stages of wild (control group) and captive S. olivacea (experimental group) were classified into four stages; Stage 1 (translucent to off white in color), Stage 2 (pale yellow), Stage 3 (light yellow) and Stage 4 (reddish orange). Fatty acid composition obtained during ovarian maturation of S. olivacea indicated that, concentration of total fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid in wild crabs, crabs fed with blood cockle and fish increased from Stage 1 to 3 ovaries and showed a decline pattern in Stage 4. The difference between these treatments were not significant (P > 0.05). The results also demonstrated that ovarian maturation stages of S. olivacea were also closely related to fatty acid compositions. Anadara granosa and Decapterus sp. can be used to feed S. olivacea in captivity to induce their ovarian maturation. The results from the present study indicated the suitable selection of natural diets for broodstock of S. olivacea in captivity.Statement of relevanceThis article is suitable with Aquaculture journal because the findings contribute to the mud crabs' aquaculture industry and aquaculture scientist in the near future. Feed and feeding related to the ovarian maturation stages are important to farmers to manage the suitable food types and feeding time in the mud crabs hatchery seed production. In addition, the interesting data from the present study can also be used to develop feeding protocols for optimization in diets for mud crabs broodstock production.