• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.255-271
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• 1993

For the development of seedling production techniques of the freshwater crab Eriocheir japonicus, the effects of salinity and temperature on the growth of larvae of the crab were studied. Embryos hatched out as zoea larvae were measured 0.421 mm in average carapace length. Five zoea stages needed 16-26 days for metamorphosis from zoea to megalopa at $22^{\circ}C$ and $24.5\%o$. The average carapace length of the 5th zoea was 1.16 mm and that of the megalopa larvae was 1.89 mm. Each zoea stage could be identified based on both the number of plumosed seatae on the exopodite of maxilliped, and the number of spines on the posteroinner margin of tel son and also based on the rudimentary pleopods appearence. Zoea larvae fed rotifers and Artemia nauplii were healthy and metamorphosing rate from zoea to megalopa was $80\~90\%\;at\;22\~26^{\circ}C\;and\;17.5\~31.5\%o$. The relationship between larval period (Y in days) and water temperature $(X\;in\;^{\circ}C)$ is expressed as Log Y = 3.8604-1.91735 LogX. Water temperature and salinity ranges for better survival and metamorphosis of the larvae were $ 22^{\circ}C\~26^{\circ}C\;(optimum\;at\; 26^{\circ}C)\;and\;17.5\%o\~31.5\%o\;(optimum\;at\;24.5\%)$, respectively. The duration of larval stages tend to longer as salinity levels deviated from optimum particulaly at lower end. All zoea larvae did not survive in freshwater.