Effective diet for rearing the second zoeal stage of the snow crab Chionoecetes opilio in the laboratory

The rearing feed for the second zoeal stage of snow crab Chionoecetes opilio was investigated using 30 l tanks, by feeding with rotifers Brachionus plicatilis, Artemia nauplii (immediately after hatching) and grown Artemia (enriched with compound feed for Artemia) . By feeding grown Artemia only to the second zoeal stage produced high survival rates. Also feeding a combination of rotifers, Artemia and grown Artemia together to the second zoeal stage, the survival rate was high. If only unenriched Artemia are fed to the second zoeal stage, the survival rate was lower. These results show that feeding grown Artemia that have enriched to the second zoeal stage is effective for their survival. Unenriched Artemia potentially are nutritionally deficient to support larval survival and molting. Based on results of these studies, the feeding regime for successful rearing to the megalopal stage of snow crab has been clarified.