Performance evaluation of the mud crab Scylla serrata in three different culture practices namely, monoculture, monosex culture and polyculture has been carried out in earthen ponds. In one set of experiment, a monoculture trial with three different stocking densities (0.5, 0.75 and 1/m2) were attempted and in the second set of experiment, an all male, all-female, mixed and polyculture with milkfish were evaluated at a stocking density of 0.5/m2. All the experiments were conducted using wild seed of S. serrata and fed with low cost marine fish. Monoculture experiments revealed that lower stocking densities (0.5/m2) yield better survival (47%), growth and production (663 kg/ha/crop). Growth rate of males were found higher than females at all stocking densities. Culture trial of mono-sex culture (all - male and all - female) has also yielded significantly higher (P<0.05) production and survival compared to the mixed culture. The results of polyculture of crabs with milkfish have exhibited an additional yield of milkfish without affecting the production.

Mud crab, performance evaluation, monoculture, monosex culture, polyculture.