Biochemical composition of the mud crab Scylla paramamosain (Estampador, 1949) fatted under the recirculating water system

The meat yield, biochemical compositions of muscles, and hepatopancreas of mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) fatted under a recirculating water system were compared concerning molting stages, gender, and kinds of fresh feed. In the postmolt stage, the juvenile crabs (100 - 200 g of body weight) were reared into the recirculating water system and fed with two kinds of fresh feed (bivalvia and tilapia meat). As the crab developed from the postmolt stage going to the intermolt and end at the premolt stage, it was harvested and analyzed for its biochemical components. The results showed that meat yield from the legs-claw muscle of male crabs was higher (P < 0.05) than that of females, and hepatopancreas of crabs in the premolt stage was also accumulated higher (P < 0.05) than that of crabs in the intermolt stage. In terms of molting stages, the moisture content of muscles and hepatopancreas of crabs in the premolt stage was lower (P < 0.05) than that of crabs in the intermolt stage. The Fe content of hepatopancreas was the same result too (P < 0.05). Conversely, other biochemical components such as protein and lipid contents of legs-claw and hepatopancreas, Mg content of body and legs-claw muscles, and K content of legs claw and hepatopancreas of crab in the premolt stage were higher (P < 0.05) than those of crabs in the intermolt stage. For the gender aspects, lipid contents of body muscle and hepatopancreas, P content of the legs-claw and hepatopancreas, and K content of the legs-claw muscle were higher (P < 0.05) in females than in males. In comparison, the ash content of body muscle and the Fe content of hepatopancreas of male crabs were higher (P < 0.05) than those of females. Regarding feed, crabs fed by bivalvia meat accumulated ash in body muscle, Ca, Mg, and P contents in hepatopancreas higher than those of crabs feeding tilapia meat. The results illuminate the possibilities for both consumers and processors to correctly select the molting stages and gender to cater specifically to their requirements.