Growth, development, and survival of larval Mithraculus sculptus (Lamark) and Mithraculus forceps (A. Milne Edwards) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majidae): economically important marine ornamental crabs

Brachyuran crabs Mithraculus sculptus and Mithraculus forceps are heavily traded in the marine aquarium industry. To evaluate the aquaculture potential of these two species and to determine the most suitable species for further investigation, the growth, development, and survival of the larvae fed with two diets-newly hatched Artemia nauplii (NHA) and enriched Artemia nauplii (EA) with Algamac 3050-and those that were not fed (controls) were compared. In both species, starved larvae failed to develop past zoea 1 stage; however, survival, developmental rates, and growth rates were not different between crabs fed the two diets. Mean larval duration was significantly shorter for M. forceps fed either diet (8.3±0.5 for both treatments) than for M. sculptus (9.5±0.5 and 9.2±0.4 days for NHA and EA, respectively). Survivorship to juveniles was significantly higher in M. forceps (79.8±7.0% and 74.3±7.3% for NHA and EA diets, respectively) than in M. sculptus (19.3±15.3% and 25.7±9.9% for NHA and EA diets, respectively). Larval size and weight were not significantly different between diets or species; however, the crab 1 stage of M. forceps reared with either diet (220±19 and 226±25 μg for NHA and EA, respectively) was significantly larger than that of M. sculptus (189±11 and 200±23 μg for NHA and EA, respectively). The rarity and higher market price, combined with the higher survivorship to juveniles, make M. forceps the better candidate for aquaculture.