Mating Behaviour and Broodstock Development of Commercially Important Blue Swimming Crab, Portunus sanguinolentus (Herbst)

The study investigates the mating behavior and broodstock development of commercially important crab, Portunus sanguinolentus. In first experimental setup two different sized hard shell males (85g and 110g) and a soft shell female (85g) was stocked in a tank. The female crab avoided the small crab and accepted the bigger crab for its aggressive interaction and eventually successful mating was happened. In second experimental setup two same sized males (100g) in which one male had one chelate and another one with two chelae stocked with a soft shell female (95g). The female always readily accepted to mate with two chelate male than single chelate male. The breeding behaviour encompassing 3 phases viz., contact, cradle carry position and mating were described in detail. Finally the fertilized eggs were deposited in the abdomen of the female. The berried females were maintained in the laboratory until the eggs hatched into I zoeae. The crab fishery in India is fast developing and there is a vast scope for the crab meat both national and international markets. To start year round seed production the availability of berried females throughout the year is essential.