Effects OF FIVE ATTRACTANTS ON CHINESE MITTEN CRAB, ERIOCHER SINENSIS

To increase feed intake and reduce feed loss in the production of Eriocher sinensis, this study screened the attractants for Chinese mitten crab by pigment indication method using crabs of (26.4±0.17) g that were equally divided into 20 concrete tankages. To explore color preference and the optimum supplement dosages of five attractants of squid extract (SE), yeast hydrolysate (YH), cottonseed meal protein hydrolysate (CPH), betaine, and allicin, these five attractants were added pigment of different colors. The results showed that color did not significantly impact on feeding of crab (P>0.05). The stimulant index of fed 0.3% SE, 0.6% YH, 0.6% CPH and 0.09% allicin diets were significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of the control diet. The highest stimulant index of betaine was 1%, but there was no significant difference among other groups (P>0.05). The highest stimulant index was observed in 0.6% CPH group, and the stimulant index of 0.6% CPH and 0.6% YH diet was significantly (P<0.05) higher than other groups. The stimulant index of 0.3% SE diet was higher than 0.09% allicin diet group and 1% betaine diet group (P<0.05). In conclusion, the optimum supplement dosages of SE, YH, CPH, betaine and allicin for crab were 0.3%, 0.6%, 0.6%, 1% and 0.09% orderly and diets preference were following: CPH>YH>SE>allicin>betaine. The 0.6% CPH or 0.6% YH had stronger attractive effect among the attractants, which can be used as attractants of crab.