Abstract:
The Mud crab, Scylla serrata is an economically important crustacean.
inhabiting the lagoons of the west coast of Sri Lanka. Currently there is interest
in mass rearing of the species in ponds. Thus, a study was carried out to identify
the food and feeding habits of Seylla serrata in the Negombo Lagoon. The
stomach contents of crabs of different sizes caught by unbaited gears were screened
to identify the food constituents and it wasfound that crabs of medium size (subadults)
mainly fed on molluscs and the small ones (juveniles) on crustaceans.
Monthly samples were also studied and found that there is no seasonal variation
in the food items. Diurnal studies were carried out to determine the feeding time
and it became evident that the crabs feed continuously during the night and
only at the high tide in the daytime.
