EARLY DEVELOPMENT, GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF YELLOW CRAB CANCER-ANTHONYI RATHBUN (DECAPODA, BRACHYURA) IN LABORATORY

Larvae of the yellow crab C. anthonyi were reared through 5 zoeal stages and 1 megalops stage in the laboratory. Total larval development times were 33 and 45 days at 22.degree. C and 18.degree. C, respectively. Survival rates to the 1st crab instar, for larvae reared in recirculating systems on a diet of Artemia nauplii, were 26% at 22.degree. C and 17% at 18.degree. C. Although no larvae reared in glass containers at 22.degree. C survived past the 1st zoeal stage, 11% of those in similar containers at 18.degree. C reached the 1st crab instar. Bacterial infections were associated with most observed mortalities. Antibiotics failed to increase the survival rates of larvae reared in glass containers. Juvenile crabs were reared in individual containers and in communal aquaria through 14 crab instars. Although instar durations were shorter at 22.degree. C than at 18.degree. C, mean carapace widths were significantly greater at the lower temperature. Crabs in communal aquaria at 22.degree. C were larger than those at the same temperature in individual containers. Crabs reared in aquaria at 22.degree. C reached the 12th instar with a mean size of 90.3 mm, 195 days after hatching. Sexually mature 13th stage laboratory-reared crabs were mated and their offspring reared through the 9th crab stage.