The use of sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur, 1821) Meal and Spinach, Amaranthus tricolor (Linnaeus, 1759) meal in diet for mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forskal, 1775)

Abstract

Sailfin Molly, a pest in ponds, can be utilized as a source of protein because it has good nutritional quality. Spinach is also known to contain ecdysteroid which can accelerate molting in crabs. The study aims to analyze the use of these two ingredients on crab growth. Mangrove crabs weighed 66.43±9.78 g and carapace width 7.40±0.43 cm. The container used was crab box and placed in the pond. Treatments consisted of 4; i.e. the use of sailfin molly meal and spinach, treatments A (40 and 20), B (40 and 25), C (40 and 30) %, D (commercial feed); using a completely randomized design. Test parameters: weight growth (W), number of crabs molting (NM), survival (SR), feed conversion (FCR) and physico-chemical physico-chemical water conditions. Data were analyzed by variance and Duncan's further test. The treatments had a significant effect on W, SR and FCR but no significant effect on NM. Water physico-chemical i.e. salinity was not favorable for crab growth. The use of sailfin molly meal and spinach in feed was as good as commercial feed.