Complete and partial replacement of Artemia nauplii by Moina micrura during early postlarval culture of white shrimp (Litopenaeus schmitti)

Growth rate, soluble protein content, osmotic stress and digestive enzyme activity were studied in early Litopenaeus schmitti postlarvae under different feeding regimens, by partially or completely replacing Artemia nauplii with Moina micrura. Growth was significantly higher in the postlarvae fed with a mixture of M. micrura, Artemia nauplii and algae (0.030 mg dry weight (dw) larva^?1 day^?1, 17.4 ± 2.1% day^?1), together with the postlarvae fed on Artemia nauplii and algae (0.027 mg dw larva^?1 day^?1, 18.3 ± 1.9% day^?1). Complete replacement of Artemia nauplii by M. micrura produced the lowest growth rate (0.018 mg dw larva^?1 day^?1, 14.3 ± 1.6% day^?1) and induced the highest protease and α‐amylase activities and lower soluble protein contents. No significant difference among the treatments could be detected in postlarval resistance to osmotic stress. Based on the growth results, soluble protein content, enzymatic activity and osmotic stress resistance, we determined that the partial replacement of Artemia nauplii by M. micrura did not affect the growth, the soluble protein content and the nutritional state in the postlarvae of L. schmitti. To our knowledge, this is the first reported use of M.micrura as feed for early postlarvae of L. schmitti.