COMPARISON OF THE DURATION OF RED MANGROVE CRAB (Scylla olivacea) MOULTING USING VARIOUS METHODS OF MUTILATION

Abstract

Research are aimed to know the effect of cutting (mutilating) motion organ on moulting period and to know the fastest time of moulting attainment on red mangrove crabs with various methods of mutilation. The research was conducted in August to October 2017, located in Puyahan fishpond, South Lembar Village, West Lombok. The study used an experimental method with a Completely Randomized Design with five treatments which were without mutilation treatment (A), mutilation of a pair of claws (B), mutilation of the entire foot (C), mutilation of a pair of swimming legs (D), and mutilation of the whole organ of motion (E). Each treatment was repeated 3 times to obtain 15 experimental units. The results show that there was a significant effect of organ mutiliation of mangrove crab on moulting period.  Red mangrove crabs which were given mutilation treatment for all organs of motion showed the fastest moulting compared to other treatments. The time needed to moulting by the treatment of mutilation of all the motion organs was 32 days in averages. There were no differences of weigh gain and relative growth rate between all the treatments. Water quality during the study was salinity ranging from 28-36 ppt, dissolved oxygen was 4.5-8.4 mg/L, pH 8-9, temperature 28-33^oC and ammonia 0.5 mg/L.