Understanding factors affecting the reproductive performance of mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) is important for the optimization of the culture conditions. There are some indications that complete darkness could enhance and accelerate the spawning in female decapods, but sometimes it may lead to low larval quality. Therefore, the present study was carried out to clarify the effect of different light conditions on female S. paramamosain during the post-mating period. To accomplish this, proximate compositions, total carotenoid content, amino acid and fatty acid profiles were investigated in female S. paramamosain cultured under two different light conditions: complete darkness (0 ± 0 lx; 0 h light: 24 h dark) and normal light condition (7.00 ± 1.50 lx; 12 h light: 12 h dark; this light condition is regular in S. paramamosain hatcheries). Further, weight gain ratio (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), gonado-somatic index (GSI), and hepatosomatic index (HSI) were also investigated. Different light conditions affected carotenoid, protein, amino acid, and fatty acid contents, but not growth parameters. Female S. paramamosain cultured under complete darkness had lower amino acids and protein contents in the muscle in comparison with those under the normal light condition. Moreover, complete darkness decreased the ovarian protein and carotenoid. The changes in fatty acids profiles were variable under the two light conditions. These results indicated that the lowering of carotenoid and protein contents in the ovary under complete darkness could be the potential limiting factors affecting the reproductive performance of post-mating female S. paramamosain.

了解影响泥蟹（Scylla paramamosain）繁殖性能的因素对于优化养殖条件很重要。有一些迹象表明，完全黑暗可以增强和加速雌性十足目动物的产卵，但有时可能会导致幼虫质量低下。因此，本研究旨在阐明不同光照条件对交配后雌性S. paramamosain 的影响。为此，研究了雌性拟南芥的近似组成、类胡萝卜素总含量、氨基酸和脂肪酸谱在两种不同的光照条件下培养：完全黑暗（0 ± 0 lx；0 小时光照：24 小时黑暗）和正常光照条件（7.00 ± 1.50 lx；12 小时光照：12 ​​小时黑暗；这种光照条件在S. paramamosain 中是规则的孵化场）。此外，还研究了体重增加率 (WGR)、比生长率 (SGR)、性腺体指数 (GSI) 和肝体指数 (HSI)。不同的光照条件影响类胡萝卜素、蛋白质、氨基酸和脂肪酸的含量，但不影响生长参数。雌性S. paramamosain与正常光照条件下相比，完全黑暗条件下培养的肌肉中氨基酸和蛋白质含量较低。此外，完全黑暗会降低卵巢蛋白质和类胡萝卜素。在两种光照条件下，脂肪酸谱的变化是可变的。这些结果表明，完全黑暗条件下卵巢中类胡萝卜素和蛋白质含量的降低可能是影响交配后雌性S. paramamosain繁殖性能的潜在限制因素。