Effects of diet on larval development of the hermit crab (Clibanarius longitarsus)

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of different diets on the survival, growth, and metamorphosis of Clibanarius longitarsus larvae under controlled laboratory conditions. Larvae were reared on distinct feeding regimes comprising single and mixed diets of Chaetoceros sp., rotifers (cultured with Chlorella sp.), and newly hatched Artemianauplii. Larvae fed exclusively on algae exhibited complete mortality by the end of the second week. Sole Artemia feeding significantly delayed development and resulted in high mortality. The highest survival rate to the glaucothoe stage (8.2 ± 2.0%) and the best overall performance were observed in larvae fed rotifers during the early zoeal stages, followed by a transition to co-feeding with Artemia. Larval body size did not differ significantly among treatments. These findings emphasize the critical role of dietary regime in enhancing larval viability and developmental success in C. longitarsus, offering practical insights for the optimization of hermit crab hatchery protocols.