EXTERNAL CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH MOLTING IN AQUARIA IN CAMBAROIDES JAPONICUS(DE HAAN, 1841)(ASTACOIDEA, DECAPODA)

Abstract

The external changes with molting of a crayfish, Cambaroides japonicus (DE HAAN, 1841), were studied in aquaria. Softening and transparency of the exoskeleton, appearance of the gelatinous substance, and darkening of the body color were observed in molting. These changes appeared from five days before molting to twelve days after it. Four molting phases based on these changes and the period of them seemed to be useful to estimate the molting times in the natural habitat.