Holding wild caught red king crab,Paralithodes camtschaticus: effects of stocking density and feeding on survival and meat content

In this study, the effects of different stocking densities on survival, injury and meat content of captive male red king crab (mean weight = 2.6 kg) were examined. The first experiment was carried out in square plastic tanks with stocking densities of 100, 150 and 200 kg m^?3 for 56 days. In a second experiment, king crabs were kept at a stocking density of 60 kg m^?3 and were either fed or not fed. Both mortality and occurrence of injuries increased significantly with increasing stocking density. In the highest density groups, mortality and frequency of injury was 17% and 14% respectively, compared with 5% and 4% in the 150 kg m^?3 group. The percentage meat content was significantly lower at the final census compared with the initial census in all stocking density groups. In Experiment 2, there were no mortalities or injuries in either the fed or unfed treatments. The average percentage meat content increased in the fed treatment and decreased in the starved treatments. The results show that adult male king crab can maintain high survival rates at stocking densities up to 150 kg m^?3 in holding facilities of the design used in the present study for periods up to 2 months. However, to reduce mortality and frequency of injury over this period densities as low as 60 kg m^?3 and a holding system with a large bottom surface area are recommended.     

Holding wild Snow crab,Chionoecetes opilio: effects of stocking density and feeding on survival and injury

In this study the effects of different stocking densities on survival, injury and weight of captive male snow crab were examined. The first experiment (I) was carried out in square plastic tanks (700 L) with stocking densities of 100 (L), 150 (M) and 200 kg m^?3 (H) for 30 days. In a second experiment (II) snow crabs were kept at a stocking density of 50 kg m^?3 and were either fed (F) or not fed (S) for the same period of 35 days. The last experiment (III), was carried out with stocking densities of 25 kg m^?3 for 21 days with two groups, one with inactivated claw and one without rubber bands, with three replicates per treatment. In the first experiment mortality (H = 27, M = 26 and L = 36%) and occurrence of injuries (H = 27, M = 20 and L = 16%) were high in all groups. The weight loss during the experimental period was; H = 15.3, M = 10.9 and L = 15.5 g, and was not significant different between the groups. In experiment II the mortality (F = 13% and S = 14%) and injuries were lower (F = 12% and S = 17%). The average weight increased in the fed treatment and decreased in the starved treatments. In the last experiment there was no mortality in any of the groups and the levels of injury were low (5% and 7%). The results show that adult male snow crab cannot be stored at densities equal to or higher than 25 kg m^?3 for 3 weeks without risk of mortality.     

Development of larval culture techniques for the shore crab, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carcinus maenas</Emphasis> (L)

The shore crab Carcinus maenas is a commercially important species, utilised as sea angling bait as well as supporting a European-wide fishery. Hatchery production could provide an alternative source of bait crabs, alleviating potential competition between these sectors and environmental concerns regarding bait collection practices. A series of experiments were carried to investigate the potential for hatchery production, focusing on effects of dietary regimes and stocking densities through the zoeal stages and the influence of tank substrates and stocking density during the megalopa stage. Inclusion of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis as live food for early larval stages conveyed no advantage in terms of survival or rate of development compared to a diet of Artemia nauplii. Increasing zoea stocking densities (from 94 to 557 l⁻¹) had a significantly negative effect upon survival to the megalopa stage (from 75% down to 47%), although this was off-set by a significant increase in production, with 260 megalopae⁻¹ produced from an initial density of 557 zoeae l⁻¹. The inclusion of substrates for megalopa stages had no impact on production or development rate, compared to tanks with no substrate. The completely benthic behaviour of megalopae indicates that tank floor area will be a limiting factor for crab production. Increasing stocking density of megalopae was found to significantly and negatively influence survival, although above 10,000 megalopae m⁻² the rate of decline in survival stabilised and maximum production (3,114 juveniles m⁻²) of juvenile crabs could be achieved at the highest stocking densities tested (40,000 m⁻²).     

Experimental nursery culture of the mud crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scylla paramamosain</Emphasis> (Estampador) in China

For the improvement of nursery culture of the mud crab Scylla paramamosain, a special nursery facility was purposely designed and built. This facility consists of nursery ponds (areas of 20, 50, and 120 m², respectively) and a seed collecting pond connected to each nursery pond. There were 140 nursery facility units in operation for large-scale juvenile crab production. A series of experiments were carried out using the facility to investigate the effects of the age of megalopae, stocking density, and culture duration of both megalopae and first-stage crabs on the survival of megalopae and early juveniles of S. paramamosain. The results showed that when megalopae were stocked at a density between 3,000 and 5,000 ind m⁻² and reared to reach the first-stage crabs, a survival rate of up to 50% could be achieved. When the first-stage juvenile crabs were stocked at a density between 2,000 and 3,000 ind m⁻², their survival was more than 50% after 14 days of culture.     

Development of nursery culture techniques for the mud crab Scylla paramamosain (Estampador)

Cannibalism is one of the main causes of mortality in the culture of the mud crab Scylla paramamosain, particularly in the early post‐larval and juvenile stages when the densities of hatchery‐reared crabs may be very high before stocking into ponds or release into the wild for stock enhancement. In a series of experiments investigating cannibalism mitigation, the influence of stocking density, the effectiveness of sand substrate, brick and shell shelters and feed type were compared in culture of crabs from instar 1 for short nursery periods of 15–30 days. Inclusion of brick and shell shelters significantly increased survival over sand substrate alone. However, inclusion of shelters did not affect growth rates. In scaled‐up nursery production in lined‐ponds, with shelters, live Artemia biomass and fresh chopped shrimp or tilapia were found to be equally effective feeds for juvenile crabs stocked at a density of 70 m⁻² from instar 1 and grown for 30 days [52–66% survival, 21.6–24.6 mm carapace width (CW)]. In an extended nursery period for a further 30 days, crabs of 22 mm CW, stocked at 30 m⁻² in the same ponds, attained a final size of 34.5–36.2 mm CW with a survival of 64.3–67.0% using the same feeds.     

Studies on pathogenicity and prevalence of white spot syndrome virus in mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forskal), in Zhejiang Province, China

Mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forskal), is the most commercially important marine crab species in China. In recent years, serious diseases have occurred in major mud crab culture regions in SE China. PCR detection of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in diseased mud crabs collected from Zhejiang Province during 2006–2008 showed a prevalence of 34.82%. To study the pathogenicity of WSSV to mud crab, healthy mud crabs were injected intramuscularly with serial 10‐fold dilutions of a WSSV inoculum. The cumulative mortalities in groups challenged with 10^?1, 10^?2, 10^?3 and 10^?4 dilutions were 100%, 100%, 66.7% and 38.9% at 10 days post‐injection, respectively. All moribund and dead mud crabs except the control group were positive for WSSV by PCR. Based on the viral load of the WSSV inoculum by quantitative real‐time PCR, the median lethal dose (LD50) of WSSV in S. serrata was calculated as 1.10 × 10⁶ virus copies/crab, or 7.34 × 10³ virus copies g^?1 crab weight. The phenoloxidase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in haemolymph of WSSV‐infected moribund crabs, were significantly lower than the control group, whereas alkaline phosphatase, glutamate‐pyruvate transaminase and glutamic‐oxaloacetic transaminase were higher than in the control group. WSSV was mainly distributed in gills, subcuticular epithelia, heart, intestine and stomach as shown by immunohistochemical analysis with Mabs against WSSV. The epithelial cells of infected gill showed hypertrophied nuclei with basophilic inclusions. Numerous bacilliform virus particles were observed in nuclei of infected gill cells by transmission electron microscopy. It is concluded that WSSV is a major pathogen of mud crab with high pathogenicity.     

Effects of temperature on feed intake,growth and oxygen consumption in adult male king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus held in captivity and fed manufactured diets

The current study investigates whether it is possible to increase the meat content of captive male king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) (average = 2.2 kg) by feeding manufactured diets at different temperatures (4°C, 8°C and 12°C). A 110 days trial was undertaken with groups of male king crabs held in 12 land‐based holding tanks. All crabs survival in the lowest temperature treatment, one animal died in the medium‐temperature group (8°C) and four animals in the highest temperature treatment (12°C). The results showed that feed intake increased with increasing temperature from an average of 1.0 g kg^?1 day^?1 at 4°C to 2.8 g kg^?1 day^?1 crab at 12°C. The percentage meat content was significantly higher at the final census (60.0%) compared with the initial census (37.5%) in all temperature groups, but there were no significant differences in the percentage meat content of the king crabs held in the different temperature treatments at the conclusion of the experiment. Oxygen consumption was also significantly affected by temperature and increased with increasing temperature. The results of the experiment show that the optimal temperature to maintain, and enhance, the meat content of king crab is close to 4°C.     

Effects of ammonia and nitrite on survival, growth and moulting in juvenile tiger crab, Orithyia sinica (Linnaeus)

The effects of ammonia and nitrite on survival, growth and moulting were investigated in juvenile tiger crab, Orithyia sinica (carapace length 3.91±0.15 mm, carapace width 3.84±0.23 mm, n=440), after 30 days exposure to ammonia‐N (0, 20, 50, 100 and 150 mg L^?1) and nitrite‐N (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mg L^?1) using a continuous flow system. Survival rates of tiger crab exposed to ammonia and nitrite decreased linearly with the exposure time and concentration. The growth rate of tiger crab exposed to 50, 100 and 150 mg L^?1 ammonia was significantly lower than that of control crabs. The growth rate of tiger crab exposed to nitrite decreased at 150, 200 and 250 mg L^?1 nitrite. During the ammonia and nitrite exposure, the intermoult period of the juveniles of tiger crab O. sinica was shortened between the first and second moult, and the number of moulting of crabs exposed to a higher concentration were significantly higher than that of control crabs.     

Dietary astaxanthin supplementation for hatchery‐cultured red king crab,Paralithodes camtschaticus,juveniles

We conducted large‐scale production trials in Seward, Alaska, USA to investigate effects of dietary astaxanthin supplementation on survival, growth and shell colouration of recently settled juvenile (C1–C4) red king crabs (Paralithodes camtschaticus). We supplemented a control diet of commercial crustacean feeds with astaxanthin, and fed these diets to juvenile king crabs at densities of 2000 and 4000 crabs m^?2 for 56 days. We assessed survival and growth by counting crabs and individually measuring carapace width and weighing crabs at the start and end of the experiment, and quantified crab colour (hue, saturation, brightness) in digital photographs. Diets containing astaxanthin had higher survival, suggesting that astaxanthin may provide nutritional or immune system benefits. Crabs had lower hue, higher saturation and lower brightness values when fed diets containing astaxanthin, suggesting that red king crab colouration is plastic and responds to diet. Astaxanthin is likely an important dietary component for hatchery or laboratory reared red king crab juveniles, and should be considered for aquaculture and other rearing of this and possibly other crustacean species.     

Changes in the growth performance,antioxidant enzymes and stress resistance caused by dietary administration of synbiotic (fructooligosaccharide and probiotics) in juvenile Chinese Mitten Crab,Eriocheir sinensis

The research aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary fructooligosaccharide, probiotics and their combination on the growth performance, antioxidant enzymes and stress resistance of juvenile Eriocheir sinensis. Crabs (average weight: 9.90?±?0.07 g) were randomly assigned into 4 groups (3 tanks per group) fed experimental diets: basal diet (control group), basal diet supplemented with 5 g/kg FOS, basal diet supplemented with 2 g/kg multi-strain probiotics (each gram contains Lactobacillus acidophilus 10⁶ CFU?+?Bacillus subtilis 10⁷ CFU?+?Saccharomyces cerevisiae 10¹⁰ CFU) and basal diet supplemented with symbiotic (5 g/kg FOS?+?2 g/kg multi-strain probiotics) (designated as control, D1, D2 and D3, respectively). After 8 weeks of feeding trial, crabs were exposed to the transportation process (3 h). Cumulative mortality was recorded at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h after transport stress, and pre-transport and post-transport sampling of hepatopancreas occurred for assay. The results indicated that crabs fed D3 had significantly higher weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) than crabs fed control diet. Before stress, compared to the control group, crabs fed D1 and D3 diet significantly increased catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) activities, the highest activities of pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin were observed in crabs fed D2 diet. After stress, there was a trend that the activities of antioxidants enzymes and proteases in all groups were significantly decreased. And compared to the control group, crabs fed D1 and D3 diet significantly improved SOD and CAT activities, the lowest MDA activity was observed in crabs fed D3 diet, no significant difference was obtained in activities of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and three proteases among all groups (P?>?0.05). At 96 h after transportation process, the lowest cumulative mortality was observed in crabs fed D3 diet, the difference among all groups before and at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after stress was not significant (P?>?0.05). In summary, a basal diet supplemented with synbiotic could improve the growth performance and protect the hepatopancreas of Eriocheir sinensis more effectively than singular supplementation with prebiotics or probiotics.

     

The effect of stocking density of Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis on rice and crab seed yields in rice-crab culture systems

Normally Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis were cultured for 2 years, 1 year is cultured from crab larvae to seeds or button sized crab in ponds, tanks or rice fields, the another year is cultured from seeds to market size in ponds, reservoirs or other waters. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of stocking density (0, 3.75, 15, 30 and 60 inds. per m², respectively) of Chinese mitten crab larvae on rice and crab seed yields in rice-crab culture systems using land-based enclosures (4 m × 7 m, with three replicates for each stocking density) at the Panjin Guanghe Fisheries Co. Ltd, in the Liaohe Delta, China. Zoobenthos biomass, production of crab and rice paddy, and economical profit among the treatments were determined. The experiment showed that zoobenthos biomass in rice-crab culture systems was relatively variant and not significantly correlated to these stocking density. The biomass of aquatic plant declined significantly with increasing stocking density. Specific growth rates (SGR) and survival rates of the crab were significantly higher at the lower stocking density (P < 0.05); in addition, the ratio of precocious crab and total crab significantly increased with the stocking density increasing (P < 0.05); There were not significant effect of presence of crab on yields of rice straw and rice paddy (P > 0.05). Net crab yield and net profit were the highest at the 15 treatment (P < 0.05), however, the net profits among 3.75, 15 and 30 treatments did not show significant difference (P > 0.05) economically. Based on the observations above, a stocking density of 3.75 to 30 inds. per m² was considered reasonable in rice-crab culture system.     

Effects of photoperiod and stocking density on survival,growth and physiological responses of narrow clawed crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus)

Photoperiod and stocking density are critical factors influencing the performance of decapod crustaceans in culture, however, their influence on growth; survival and biochemical physiology of crayfish broodstock have rarely been considered. Analysis of biochemical physiology in crayfish broodstock during the non‐breeding season provides information on the energy storage requirements of broodstock for increased survival and reproductive output. Growth rate, moulting frequency, survival and biochemical physiology were measured in Astacus leptodactylus broodstock that were cultured at three different photoperiods (18L:6D; 12L:12D; and 6L:18D) and three stocking densities (10, 20 and 40 individuals m^?2) during non‐breeding season. Survival of crayfish was highest at 18L:6D photophase and 10 m^?2 (100%) than other treatments. Survival in the high stocking density was high when combined with 18L:6D photophase, but weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) were higher at shorter photophase and lower stocking density. Longer photophase (18L:6D) increased stress responses, characterized by increased haemolymph lactate and glucose levels. Stocking density did not affect proximate composition of crayfish; however, individuals cultured at 18L:6D photophase had higher lipid content than other photoperiod treatments. The study demonstrated that culturing A. leptodactylus at 18L:6D photophase and 10 m^?2 is critical for increased survival of broodstock.     

Dietary arginine requirement of juvenile swimming crab,Portunus trituberculatus

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal dietary arginine requirement for juvenile swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated to contain graded arginine levels which ranged from 15.9 to 33.0 g kg^?1. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 60 juvenile swimming crabs (4.72 ± 0.12 g). The results indicated that dietary arginine had significant effects on weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein productive value, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio. Weight gain and SGR significantly increased with the dietary arginine increasing from 15.9 to 27.4 g kg^?1, while with the further increasing from 27.4 to 33.0 g kg^?1, WG and SGR did not increase significantly. Maximum arginine, proline and total essential amino acid contents in muscle were observed in 27.4 g kg^?1 group diet. The swimming crab fed the diet with lower dietary arginine level showed higher AST and lower ALT in the serum. Crab fed with the lower dietary arginine level had significantly lower ALT in the serum than the other groups. Haemolymph indexes were significantly affected by the dietary arginine level except for the cholesterol concentration, and the highest values were all found in 27.4 g kg^?1 group diet. The two slope broken‐line model using SGR showed that the optimal dietary arginine requirement was 27.7 g kg^?1 of the dry matter (56.0 g kg^?1 dietary protein) for juvenile swimming crab.     

Improved hatchery‐rearing techniques for juvenile production of blue swimming crab,Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The effects of tank colour, larval stocking density, antibiotic administration and water exchange on survival and moulting of blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus, were determined. Circular 4‐m³ experimental larval‐rearing tanks were used in triplicate for all treatments. White, dark grey, blue and brown were tested as tank background colours. The stocking densities tested were 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 larvae L^?1. The effect of oxytetracycline was estimated by comparing a treatment with oxytetracycline to a treatment without oxytetracycline administration. The daily water exchange rates tested were 0%, 25%, 50% and 100% of the tank volume. In all treatments, the larvae were fed with Artemia nauplii, rotifers and encapsulated Spirulina. The highest percentage survival was observed in the dark‐grey tanks when the stocking density of larvae was 20 larvae L^?1. No larva reached the juvenile crab size in white tanks. No significant difference in survival was found between treated and non‐treated larvae with oxytetracycline when the daily water exchange rate was more than 50%.     

Effects of temperature, stocking density and diet on the growth and survival of juvenile Mithraculus forceps (A. Milne Edwards, 1875) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majidae)

Mithraculus forceps (A. Milne Edwards) has demonstrated a great potential for ornamental aquaculture and the present study tests the effects of temperature, stocking density and diet on the survival and growth of M. forceps juveniles. For 28 days post metamorphosis (DPM), the newly metamorphosed juveniles were reared at two temperatures (25±0.5 or 28±0.5°C), stocked at five densities (1, 5, 15, 30 or 60 crabs ring⁻¹; approximately 226, 1132, 3395, 6791 or 13 581 crabs m² respectively) and fed with commercial pellets (CP), microalgae (Amphora spp.), live newly hatched Artemia nauplii (NHA), frozen Artemia nauplii (FNHA), or combinations of each of these diets with NHA. At the end of the temperature experiment, carapace width of the crabs cultured at 28°C was significantly larger than the crabs reared at 25°C and average intermolt period was significantly shorter. Increased stocking density had a negative effect on survivorship and growth. Survivorship at the end of the diet experiment was significantly different between the crabs not fed, fed with CP and Amphora and the crabs fed with the other diets. Between the diet treatments, the crabs fed with NHA+Amphora were significantly larger than the ones fed with NHA+FNHA, NHA, FNHA and NHA+CP, and these in turn larger than ones fed with Amphora.     

Limiting factors associated with nitrification in closed blue crab shedding systems

A study of factors limiting crab densities in closed blue crab Callinectes sapidus shedding systems was conducted using scaled down experimental units. Nitrification beds, activated carbon, dolomite and plants were used to maintain water quality. Nitrite (NO₂N) was found to be the most critical toxic element accumulating in the system as a result of the nitrification process. Concentrations of approximately 20 mg liter^?1 NO₂N and above caused increased mortality in intermolt crabs. Mortality in molting crabs was observed at concentrations as little as 2 mg liter^?1 NO₂N. Dissolved oxygen (DO) was identified as the factor limiting the efficiency of the nitrification beds. As DO concentrations decreased, the rate of nitrification slowed, apparently causing nitrification to be inhibited at the nitrite to nitrate conversion step. As nitrite concentrations increased, high mortalities resulted, further increasing the loading in the systems and depressing DO concentrations, due to the high BOD exerted by the dead crabs. Elevated crab populations were maintained in the systems when aeration and flow increases were supplied to the nitrification beds.     

Increased spawning activity of female Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (L.) after stocking density and photoperiod manipulation

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of stocking density and photoperiod in increasing the reproductive performance of Oreochromis niloticus. In experiment 1, a change in stocking density (from 47.7 to 6.8 kg m^?3) was performed, with groups of 48 females moved to single compartments. In experiment 2, 36 females experienced a 6L:18D photoperiod for 21 or 28 days (stocking density: 31.3 kg m^?3) before being placed in individual compartments (stocking density of 6.9 kg m^?3, 12L:12D photoperiod). The spawning rates in experiment 1 (32.2%) and in experiment 2 (21 days: 65.2%, 28 days: 36.1%) were significantly higher than those in the control (17.7%). On the other hand, hatching and swim‐up fry rates were significantly lower in experiment 2 – 21 days (41.3%, 40.4%) but not in experiment 1 (64.0%, 56.3%) compared with the control (67.0%, 62.3%). The spawning rate in experiment 2 – 21‐day treatment group was the highest, while the number of eggs collected per female was significantly lower than that in the control. In experiments 1 (20.8%) and 2 (21 days: 44.4%, 28 days: 19.4%), the daily spawning rates were the highest 3 days after maintaining females in single compartments. The current experiment demonstrates how specific stocking density changes can be used to induce higher spawning rates in Nile tilapia.     

Rock crab predation of juvenile sea scallops: the functional response and its implications for bottom culture

The functional response describes how consumption rate of individual predators changes as prey density changes, and can have important implications for the bottom culture of scallops. We examined (i) the functional response of rock crabs (Cancer irroratus) preying on juvenile sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus); (ii) the effect of substrate type and scallop size on the functional response; and (iii) the underlying behavioural mechanisms of observed functional responses. Specifically, we quantified predation rate and behaviours, such as the proportion of time spent searching for prey, encounter rate between predators and prey and the outcomes of encounters, when individual rock crabs were offered a range of scallop density (2–50 or 11–111 scallops m⁻²) and two size classes of scallops (∼ ∼25 and ∼ ∼35 mm shell height) on two different substrate types (“glass-bottom” and “granule”). We found that crab predation rate on small juvenile scallops increased at a decelerating rate with prey density to a plateau at high prey density on both substrates, indicating a hyperbolic (type II) functional response. Crab predation rate on large juvenile scallops was independent of prey density (i.e., no functional response evident), suggesting that crabs were at their satiation level. Prey density did not influence any behaviour except encounter rate on small juvenile scallops, which increased as prey density increased. Substrate type influenced crab predation: maximum predation rate of crabs on small juvenile scallops and encounter rate with either size of juvenile scallops was lower on granule than on glass-bottom. Our results in the laboratory suggest that crabs could potentially be swamped if scallops are seeded at a high density in the field. However, many factors in the field may influence the functional response. For example, the presence of multiple prey types may lead to sigmoid functional responses, while the presence of many crab individuals may lead to aggregation of crabs in areas of high prey density.     

Effect of dietary lipids and vitamin E on growth performance,body composition,anti‐oxidative ability and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila challenge of juvenile Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis

Vitamin E supplement is important in protecting lipid oxidation and enhancing immunity of aquatic animals. A 10‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary lipid and vitamin E on juvenile Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis. The experimental diets included three levels of vitamin E (0, 100 and 300 mg kg^?1) and two levels of lipid (6% and 9%). The 9% lipid diet significantly enhanced the body lipid of crabs compared with the 6% lipid diet. The vitamin E concentration of hepatopancreas increased with the increase in vitamin E in the diets regardless of dietary lipid levels. The hepatopancreas fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acid and highly unsaturated fatty acid, were significantly enhanced by vitamin E supplement or 9% dietary lipid. Vitamin E supplement significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, lysozyme and phenoloxidase activities of crabs compared with those fed the diets without vitamin E supplement. The hepatopancreas malondialdehyde of crabs fed 100 mg vitamin E kg^?1 was significantly lower than those fed 0 or 300 mg vitamin E kg^?1. The phenoloxidase activity of crabs fed the 9% lipid diet was significantly higher than those fed 6% lipid, irrespective of vitamin E levels. Vitamin E supplementation increased the bacterial resistance of juvenile crab. This study indicates that dietary lipid and vitamin E supplement do not affect crab growth and survival, but vitatmin E supplement at 100 mg kg^?1 can enhance immunity and antioxidant capacity of crab fed 6% or 9% dietary lipids.     

Influence of Stocking Density on Growth and Physiological Responses of Beluga,Huso huso (Brandt, 1869), and Ship Sturgeon,Acipenser nudiventris (Lovetsky, 1828), Juveniles in a Flow‐through System

The influence of three different initial stocking densities (low stocking density [LSD] = 1.5 kg/m²; medium stocking density [MSD] = 3 kg/m²; and high stocking density [HSD] = 6 kg/m²) in flow‐through systems was evaluated on growth and welfare in beluga, Huso huso, and ship sturgeon, Acipenser nudiventris, juveniles for 2 mo. Fish were kept in 18 concrete square tanks (2.0 × 1.0 × 1.2 m³) at 22.3 ± 0.4 C and under a natural photoperiod. In both species, the growth performance in terms of final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed intake significantly decreased with increasing stocking density (P < 0.05). In both species, the percent of neutrophils increased after 60 d of trial (P < 0.05). Moreover, hematocrit and white blood cell counts increased after 60 d of trial in ship sturgeon (P < 0.05). Plasma immunoglobulin significantly decreased with increasing stocking density in both species. Plasma insulin‐like growth factor I decreased with increasing stocking density in beluga; however, it was not affected in ship sturgeon. Overall, these results showed that the LSD group in both species demonstrated more homogeneous and higher growth rate than the MSD and HSD groups.