Blue crab farming technology and management

Blue crabs like to live in shallow sea areas with muddy bottoms. They are omnivorous animals with tender meat, delicious taste and rich nutrition. They are a high-protein, low-fat aquatic product. Below, I will introduce the blue crab breeding technology and management, let’s take a look.

1. Breeding pond construction

The size and shape of the breeding pond should be determined according to the scale of breeding. There should be enough aquatic plants, stones and other shelters in the pond for blue crabs to live and forage. At the same time, oxygenation equipment should be equipped to ensure sufficient oxygen in the breeding pond.

2. Crab seedling selection

Choose crab seedlings that are well grown, strong, have complete appendages and are full of vitality. According to local water quality, climate and other conditions, select crab seedlings with strong adaptability and great growth potential. The foot muscles of high-quality crab seedlings should be azure blue, the muscles between the joints should not be sunken and should be elastic, and the carapace should be turquoise.

3. Free range

Before stocking, the crab seedlings are soaked in medicine to kill pathogens on the surface. The stocking density should be determined based on the size of the culture pond, the expected production and the specifications of the crab seed. The stocking time can be chosen in June or July every year.

4. Feeding

Blue crabs mainly feed on carnivorous baits, such as small fish, shrimps, shellfish, etc. They can also be fed artificial compound feeds . The feeding amount should be adjusted reasonably according to the growth of blue crabs, weather conditions, water quality and other factors. The daily feeding amount can be divided into two times, with the morning feeding accounting for 30% of the daily feeding amount and the evening feeding accounting for 70%.

5. Water quality management

Before breeding, the water quality of the breeding pond must be tested to ensure that the water quality meets the national standards. Replace part of the water regularly to keep the water clean. Adjust the amount and frequency of feed according to the growth stage of blue crabs and weather conditions. Pay close attention to changes in pond water quality and adjust management measures based on seasons, weather and other factors.

6. Daily management

Patrol the pond once in the morning and evening every day to check the gates, dams, escape prevention facilities, and observe the activities of blue crabs. Regularly add water quality improvers such as photosynthetic bacteria to prevent diseases. Lower the water level in winter and increase the water level to keep warm when the temperature is below 10℃.

The above is an introduction to blue crab breeding technology and management. Blue crabs have plump roe, crystal clear crab paste, and excellent taste, and are deeply loved by consumers. Therefore, blue crabs have high economic value in the market.