The growth and ecological characteristics of Eriocheir hepuensis

Eriocheir hepuensis lives in fresh water and reproduces in seawater of salinity 8-25. Its life cycle includes five stages: spawn, zoea, megalopa, juvenile and adult. The growth and ecological characteristics in every stage are different. The bigger the crab, the larger absolute growth value it has, but the less the abstract growth rate. Meanwhile the smaller the crab, the less absolute growth value it has, the larger abstract growth rate. The suitable temperature for mating is 15-20deg C; Salinity is 8-25. For zoea the temperature is 15-25deg C; Salinity is 8-25. Megalopa tends to live in fresh water, and its suitable temperature is 18-28deg C. The suitable temperature for juvenile and adult is 20-30deg C. Cultivating experiments have shown artificial cultivating eriocheir hepuensis is feasible.