~ 163 ~ International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2014; 2(2): 163-166 ISSN: 2347-5129 IJFAS 2014; 2(2): 163-166 © 2013 IJFAS www.fisheriesjournal.com Received: 08-09-2014 Accepted: 05-10-2014 Sandeep Pedapoli Scientist, Fisheries Research Station, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Kakinada-533 001, Andhra Pradesh, India. Kurva Raghu Ramudu Scientist (On Contract Basis), Fisheries Research Station, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Kakinada-533 001, Andhra Pradesh, India. Correspondence: Kurva Raghu Ramudu Scientist (On Contract Basis), Fisheries Research Station, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Kakinada-533 001, Andhra Pradesh, India. Effect of water quality parameters on growth and survivability of mud crab (Scylla tranquebarica) in grow out culture at Kakinada coast, Andhra Pradesh Sandeep Pedapoli, Kurva Raghu Ramudu Abstract An experiment was carried out to study the effect of physico chemical properties of water such as Salinity, Temperature, pH, DO, Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite on growth and survivability of mud crab (Scylla tranquebarica) in grow out culture in a brackish water fish farm at Fisheries Research Station – Kakinada. The experiment has been started with pond preparation which includes drying, ploughing and culturing with excellent prebiotic and probiotic. Natural seed was purchased and stocked at no.200/0.5 acre pond and fortnight sampling has taken to see the survival and growth associated with the water quality parameters. The study notify that among the water quality parameters salinity plays very important role as it decreases to the 10.5 ppt while the survival rate has been dropped from 87 to 45 percentage. At the same time ADGR/g day-1 has been dropped from 2.68 g to 0.97 g when salinity decreased. In addition to that DO also affect survivability and growth, due to the slight changes in temperature. But the rate of survivability has been constant when salinity has maintained at range of 15 – 25 ppt. So, among the water quality parameters the salinity was limiting factor for determining the survivability and growth of the crablets in the grow out culture. Keywords: Water Quality Parameters, Survivability, Salinity and Growth. 1. Introduction Commercial scale mud crab culture is fast developing in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The resources are very productive and suitable for the crab farming in the Godavari and Krishna estuaries. The greater scope and much importance for the development of crab farming in order to increasethe production as well as securing the livelihood for the fishers and coastal communities. The common mud crabs are Scylla serrata and Scylla tranquebarica are having comparative advantage that, it grows to a maximum size of 1.5 kg, will not cause any damage to bunds or fencing arrangements in the culture system, disease resistance, less susceptible to the epidemic disease, good market demand, wide tolerance to the temperature and salinity, and greater scope in the export market as well as in the domestic market [1] . A package of technology for culturing of crab in coastal ponds and seed production has been initiated by the R & D. However, the package of technology for the adoption of new techniques, institutional interventions for the standardization and commercialization of seed and feed technologies for culture system may be no longer effective to produce the economic sustainable yield unless has control over sudden fall and rise of the temperature and salinity in the coastal regions. Because the temperature and salinity and other water quality parameters directly affects feed efficiency, growth rates of crab health and survival. Now a days these parameters have not been constant for a period of time due to the obvious reason that climate change in the environment. These results aquaculture system was facing mass mortality of production when it comes to the farmer’s hand. To address these issues Fisheries Research Station, Kakinada has taken keen interest on to study the effectiveness of the water quality parameters in the survivability and growth of the crabs. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Study area 0.5 acre of Brackish Water Fish Farm of Fisheries Research Station (FRS), Kakinada, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh.