Effect of temperature stress on the survival of juvenile Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

Eriocheir sinensis, which is an important aquaculture species, belongs to the class Crustacea. To discuss the temperature tolerance of E. sinensis, the survival rates of juvenile crabs of E. sinensis were determined in this paper using a series of temperature settings (normal temperature, 25°C, 30°C, 32°C, 34°C, 35°C, 36°C, 38°C, 40 °C). The results indicated that except the normal temperature level, mortality rate almost reached 100% at other temperatures. The time of death of all crabs at 30℃, 35℃, and 40℃ was different. All the crabs died in only 10 minutes at 40℃, while they died after 3 days and 7 days at 35 ℃ and 30℃, respectively. In addition to normal temperature conditions, minimum survival time of the juvenile crabs of E. sinensis at other temperature condition was no more than 24 h. Before the 8th day, the death rate at 30℃ and normal temperature was different, change of turning slope for concentration of NH3-N and TN was contrary. Under normal temperature, the behavior of abdomen extension was not observed in juvenile crabs but the percentage time of abdomen extension was relatively long at 25℃. This research studied the influence of temperature stress on the survival of juvenile crabs of E. sinensis to provide information reference for the production and transportation of juvenile crab of E. sinensis.