The use of microorganisms as food source for Penaeus paulensis larvae

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to test the usefulness of microorganisms as food source for the Penaeus paulensis larvae. Larvae fed only bacteria survived longer _3 days. than those cultured in filtered _-1.0 mm. seawater. However, they grew better when fed flagellates and ciliates, reaching the protozoa II stage after 8 days. Gut content analysis showed that the ciliate Cristigera minuta was heavily grazed by the larvae. The addition of microalgae and Artemia sp. nauplii besides microorganisms did not result in increased survival. However, all larvae that received supplementary food in the form of flagellates and ciliates showed larger cephalotorax length than those in the control treatments. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.