Complete Larval Development of the Deep Sea Red Crab Chaceon granulatus under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

In order to obtain information on early life history and larval rearing conditions of the deep sea red crab Chaceon granulatus, one hundred 1st zoeae of this crab were reared under laboratory conditions. It has been succeeded in rearing this crab from the 1st zoeal stage to the juvenile stage, 5.1 mm in carapace width. The number of successful moltings to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th zoea, megalopa and juvenile crab were 40, 38, 36, 28 and 2 individuals, respectively. After hatching, it took 81 to 92 days to reach the juvenile stage. The average numbers of days spent in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th zoea stages and the megalopa stage were 11.2, 8.5, 8.8, 12.0 and 46, respectively. It was found that maintenance of a good rearing environment and a sufficient quantity of bait were important for rearing the crabs to the juvenile stage.