PRODUCTION AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF MUD CRAB (SCYLLA OLIVACEA) FATTENING WITH GIFT TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) IN EARTHEN PONDS AND CAGES

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Authors: M. Akter M. Sajidul Islam M. M. Shamsuzzaman M. S. Islam

Keywords: Coastal region, crab fattening, Integrated aquaculture, benefit-cost ratio, Shellfish production

Journal: Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (Science) - 52(1) - June 2026

Page Numbers: 97-110

Published At: June 2026

DOI: 10.64298/jasbsci.v52i.007

Abstract:

Mud crab (Scylla olivacea) is a significant food and high economic resource in many countries including Bangladesh. Integrated aquaculture employs the co-products of one species, which are automatically recycled as inputs for another species to obtain higher profits. Considering the integrated farming, a vertical intensification of mud crab production conducted earthen ponds and floating cages over the period of February to April 2025. Genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT), Oreochromis niloticus was integrated with crabs in the free pond areas to enhance the productivity. There were three treatments: crab and tilapia stocked together in earthen ponds (T1), tilapia stocked in ponds with crab reared in floating cages (T2), and crab and tilapia stocked together in ponds while crab reared in floating cages (T3). Water quality was checked regularly so as to maintain the parameters of the optimum range for cultured species. Crab survival rate in pond was greater in T1 (81.00 ± 2.00%) compared to T3 (77.00 ± 3.00%) and in floated cages it was higher in T2 (92.00 ± 2.00%) than T3 (90.00 ± 2.00%). Moreover, T3 (3.10 ± 0.43 kg/m2) and T2 (1.76 ± 0.04 kg/m2) were also considerably greater in crab production than T1 (1.46 ± 0.47 kg/m2. Crab productions in the floated cages were significantly (p<0.05) higher than productions in the ponds. Tilapia growth was also observed to be in concurrence with a moderate survival rate (70.00-73.00%). The GIFT production (0.67 ± 0.09 kg/m2) in the T3 was slightly lower than T1 (0.69 ± 0.15 kg/m2) and T2 (0.73 ± 0.11 kg/m2.The combined output and net profit of integrated crab fattening and GIFT farming were significantly (p<0.05) higher in T3 (3.77 ± 0.52 kg/m2, BDT 1481.93 ± 31.25/m2) and followed by T2 (2.49 ± 0.15 kg/m2, BDT 850.55 ± 69.51/m2) and T1 (2.15 ± 0.62 kg/m2, BDT 620.88 ± 23.56/m2), respectively. This study demonstrates that integrated culture of mud crab and tilapia is a promising and viable aquaculture approach for the coastal regions of Bangladesh. The most effective culture strategies involve rearing tilapia in earthen ponds while culturing mud crab in floating cages, or adopting a combined system where both species are reared in earthen ponds with supplementary crab culture in floating cages.