Pêche et production animale

Abstrait

Breeding of the Land Crab Cardiosoma armatum (Herklots 1851) in Captivity in Benin

Edéa OG, Gbangboché AB, Hinvi LC and Azando EV

Tests of breeding of 70 juveniles (35&♂ and 35♀) and 5 berried females of Cardiosoma armatum were carried out in captivity for 42 days. The crabs were fed on palm nuts (Elaeis guineensis), banana leaves (Musa sp.), (Paspalum vaginatum) and a granulated supplement. The results show a non-significant difference between enclosure for temperature, pH of the soil and water, favoring a survival rate of 94.28%. In monosex rearing, the lot of males presented an average daily gain (ADG) higher than that of females: 0.13 ± 0.08 g vs. 0.09 ± 0.04 g (p<0.05). In mixed farming, average daily gain (ADG) of males is significantly lower than that of females: 0.10 ± 0.05 g vs. 0.12 ± 0.08 g (p<0.05). Furthermore, the males in monosex farming presented an average daily gain above (p<0.05) that of males in mixed farming. There is no significant difference between males in mixed farming and females in monosex culture (p<0.05). The carapace of males is wider than that of females: 5.2 ± 0.39 cm vs. 5.1 ± 0.34 cm during the test (p<0.05). This species has good growth performance and can be recommended for the Benin aquaculture.