This study aimed to supply three foods to the crab Callinectes sapidus in its juvenile stage and compare their effects on its growth. For that, crab larvae were cultured from oviparous adult female crabs. The larvae (z1-z8) were fed with rotifers, previously cultured with microalgae and megalopae (Meg.) with live Artemia salina larvae, obtained from fresh cysts until they reached juvenile development (c1, first crab). Then, 270 animals (c1) were analyzed in three groups of 90, with different diets: shrimp (Penaeus vannamei; Group 1), squid (Mastigoteuthis flammea; Group 2), and tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus; Group 3). After 90 days of feeding regimens, the sizes of juvenile crabs were measured by microscopy, and the following relationship was found (p < 0.001): Group 1 (20.8 ± 0.7) > Group 2 (14.5 ± 0.9) > Group 3 (10.4 ± 0.6). The nutritional factor played an essential role in this size differentiation. This intelligent and differentiated feeding strategy showed us that shrimp could be an essential source for the growth of crabs in the juvenile stage. This new approach to safe and efficient roost feeding can classify crabs by size for further hormonal, molting, and reproductive studies.
Keywords: Callinectes sapidus; Mastigoteuthis flammea; Oreochromis niloticus; Penaeus vannamei; feeding; growth.