Soft-shell crabs are gaining attention internationally as a more lucrative option of selling commercially important portunid species due to their ease of consumption, high nutritional values, and unique and excellent taste. This product, however, is only attainable in captivity as crabs are harvested right after moulting when their exoskeletons are still soft. Among the most crucial factor in soft-shell crab production is the moult induction method. Shorter moult intervals imply more soft-shell crabs could be produced, increasing productivity and profit for farmers. This review describes the moulting event, soft-shell crab production process and production systems, and highlights the currently available and potential moult induction methods, including eyestalk ablation, limb autotomy, the use of ecdysteroid, phytoecdysteroid, biogenic amines and methyl farnesoate, the inhibition of moult-inhibiting hormone (MIH) and the regulation of physical parameters. This review further compares these moult induction methods and their benefits towards soft-shell crab production.

中文翻译：

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软壳蟹生产中的换羽诱导方法

软壳蟹因其易于食用、营养价值高以及独特而出色的口味，作为销售具有重要商业价值的梭子蟹的一种更有利可图的选择而在国际上受到关注。然而，这种产品只能在人工饲养中获得，因为螃蟹在蜕皮后的外骨骼仍然柔软时被捕获。软壳蟹生产中最关键的因素之一是换羽诱导方法。更短的换羽间隔意味着可以生产更多的软壳蟹，从而提高农民的生产力和利润。这篇综述描述了蜕皮事件、软壳蟹生产过程和生产系统，并重点介绍了目前可用和潜在的蜕皮诱导方法，包括眼柄消融、肢体自切、使用蜕皮激素、植物蜕皮激素、生物胺和法尼酸甲酯，抑制蜕皮抑制激素 (MIH) 和调节物理参数。本综述进一步比较了这些换羽诱导方法及其对软壳蟹生产的好处。