The use of microorganisms as food source for Penaeus paulensis larvae

Three experiments were conducted to test the usefulness of microorganisms a s food source for the Penaeus paulensis larvae. Larvae fed only bacteria su rvived longer (3 days) than those cultured in filtered (<1.0 mu m) seawater . However, they grew better when fed flagellates and ciliates, reaching the protozoa II stage after 8 days. Gut content analysis showed that the cilia te Cristigera minuta was heavily grazed by the larvae. The addition of micr oalgae and Artemia sp. nauplii besides microorganisms did not result in inc reased survival. However, all larvae that received supplementary food in th e form of flagellates and ciliates showed larger cephalotorax length than t hose in the control treatments. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.