Development of nursery culture techniques for the mud crab Scylla paramamosain (Estampador)

Cannibalism is one of the main causes of mortality in the culture of the mud crab Scylla paramamosain, particularly in the early post‐larval and juvenile stages when the densities of hatchery‐reared crabs may be very high before stocking into ponds or release into the wild for stock enhancement. In a series of experiments investigating cannibalism mitigation, the influence of stocking density, the effectiveness of sand substrate, brick and shell shelters and feed type were compared in culture of crabs from instar 1 for short nursery periods of 15–30 days. Inclusion of brick and shell shelters significantly increased survival over sand substrate alone. However, inclusion of shelters did not affect growth rates. In scaled‐up nursery production in lined‐ponds, with shelters, live Artemia biomass and fresh chopped shrimp or tilapia were found to be equally effective feeds for juvenile crabs stocked at a density of 70 m⁻² from instar 1 and grown for 30 days [52–66% survival, 21.6–24.6 mm carapace width (CW)]. In an extended nursery period for a further 30 days, crabs of 22 mm CW, stocked at 30 m⁻² in the same ponds, attained a final size of 34.5–36.2 mm CW with a survival of 64.3–67.0% using the same feeds.     

Assessment of dietary lecithin and cholesterol requirements of mud crab, Scylla serrata, megalopa using semi-purified microbound diets

The effects of varying dietary lecithin and cholesterol levels on growth, development and survival of mud crab, Scylla serrata, megalopa were evaluated using six semi‐purified, microbound diets formulated to be iso‐energetic and containing three levels of supplemental lecithin (0, 20 and 40 g kg⁻¹ diet dry weight) and two levels of supplemental cholesterol (0 and 7 g kg⁻¹ diet dry weight). Fifteen megalopa were reared individually in each treatment and the nutritional value of diets was assessed on basis of mean dry weight and mean carapace width of newly settled first crab stage, as well as development time to the first crab stage and overall survival. A significant interaction between supplemental dietary lecithin and supplemental dietary cholesterol was found for final mean dry weight of newly settled crabs, and highest survival (60%) was recorded for megalopa fed diets containing the highest levels of dietary lecithin (39.7–44.1 g kg⁻¹) (diet 5 and 6) regardless of whether diets were supplemented with cholesterol; this rate of survival was identical to that of megalopa fed live Artemia nauplii. The results indicate that supplemental dietary cholesterol may not be essential for mud crab megalopa when fed diets containing sufficient levels of supplemental dietary phospholipids.     

Experimental nursery culture of the mud crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scylla paramamosain</Emphasis> (Estampador) in China

For the improvement of nursery culture of the mud crab Scylla paramamosain, a special nursery facility was purposely designed and built. This facility consists of nursery ponds (areas of 20, 50, and 120 m², respectively) and a seed collecting pond connected to each nursery pond. There were 140 nursery facility units in operation for large-scale juvenile crab production. A series of experiments were carried out using the facility to investigate the effects of the age of megalopae, stocking density, and culture duration of both megalopae and first-stage crabs on the survival of megalopae and early juveniles of S. paramamosain. The results showed that when megalopae were stocked at a density between 3,000 and 5,000 ind m⁻² and reared to reach the first-stage crabs, a survival rate of up to 50% could be achieved. When the first-stage juvenile crabs were stocked at a density between 2,000 and 3,000 ind m⁻², their survival was more than 50% after 14 days of culture.     

注射中华绒螯蟹及锯缘青蟹促雄性腺提取物对中华绒螯蟹雌蟹雄性化的影响

该论文首次报道了经由促雄性腺提取物的注射而在蟹类中引起的性逆转现象。此前关于蟹类促雄性腺活性研究的报道极少，而且蟹类的雄性化均是由促雄性腺的移植所产生。本实验中将锯缘青蟹和中华绒螯蟹的促雄性腺提取物分别注射到刚刚完成性别分化的中华绒螯蟹雌性幼蟹体内，此时幼蟹处于4至5期，壳宽为5～8 mm。注射之后，幼蟹经过大约1～2次蜕皮，此时在注射锯缘青蟹以及中华绒螯蟹的促雄性腺提取物的两组实验幼蟹中均能观察到雄性化现象，而注射生理盐水的对照组实验幼蟹中未能观察到相同现象。由此本实验可以证明促雄性腺确实是蟹类的一种雄性激素，注射促雄性腺提取物能引起雌性幼蟹发生性逆转；同时根据锯缘青蟹和中华绒螯蟹的促雄性腺提取物均能引起中华绒螯蟹雌性幼蟹发生性逆转的现象推测，锯缘青蟹和中华绒螯蟹两种间可能存在促雄性腺的交叉活性；不仅如此，性逆转还能在极低的注射剂量下获得，相当于中华绒螯蟹0.14促雄性腺当量和锯缘青蟹0.06促雄性腺当量。     

Formulated Feeds Containing Fresh or Dried Artemia as Food Supplement for Larval Rearing of Black Tiger Shrimp,Penaeus monodon

Supplementation of microalgae and Artemia nauplii with practical formulated feeds containing fresh or dried Artemia biomass for larval rearing of black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, was assessed. Five feeding treatments were carried out in a recirculating seawater system with fifteen 30-L fiberglass tanks. Shrimp nauplii were stocked at a density of 150 L^?1 for 23 days. In the control treatment, live feed was supplemented with commercial formulated feed (Inve Aquaculture NV, Belgium). In two other treatments, live feed was supplemented with a pelleted feed based on either fresh or dried Artemia. In the remaining two treatments live feed was supplemented with a combination of 50% commercial feed and 50% fresh or dried Artemia feeds. Overall, performance of PL in the combination treatments (commercial feed and Artemia diets) were equal to or better than those fed commercial feed alone as seen by the better growth rate and higher resistance to formalin stress. The results indicate that feed containing fresh or dried Artemia biomass can partially supplement live feeds for larval rearing of P. monodon.     

Comparative performance of hatchery-reared and wild Scylla paramamosain (Estampador, 1949) in pond culture

The performance of hatchery‐reared juveniles either in aquaculture grow‐out systems or stock enhancement is likely to be dependent on a range of factors during the hatchery phase of production. With recent progress in the development of hatchery systems for the mud crabs Scylla spp., there is growing interest in evaluation of the quality of hatchery‐reared juveniles relative to wild seed crabs as currently used in aquaculture. Hatchery‐reared and wild‐collected Scylla paramamosain juveniles were stocked either together in ponds or separately. All crabs were tagged with microwire‐coded tags, so that origin could be determined in the mixed groups. Preliminary validation demonstrated that tagging did not affect survival or growth, with a tag retention of 94%. After 106 days of culture, there was no significant difference in survival at harvest between the two sources of crabs. The wild juvenile crabs had a significantly higher initial weight:carapace width (CW) ratio compared with those from the hatchery, indicating a difference in condition. However, where crabs were stocked separately, the hatchery‐reared animals exhibited significantly faster growth than those collected from the wild, both in terms of specific growth rate and CW increase per month. However, in the mixed ponds, where there was competition with wild crabs, there was no significant difference in growth rate between crabs from the two sources. Overall, the results demonstrate that the growth performance of hatchery‐reared S. paramamosain can at least equal that of wild‐collected seed crabs in ponds culture.     

The effects of supplemental dietary cholesterol on growth, development and survival of mud crab, Scylla serrata, megalopa fed semi-purified diets

The effects of varying levels of dietary cholesterol on growth, development time and survival of mud crab, Scylla serrata megalopa were investigated using semi-purified microbound diets (MBD). Five iso-energetic diets containing different level of cholesterol ranging from 0.14% to 1% of dry weight of the diet were tested. Fifteen megalopa were reared individually for each dietary treatment, and development time and survival were recorded on a daily basis. More than 25% of megalopa from all treatments were able to metamorphose into the first crab stage, suggesting that the endogenous level of cholesterol in the basal diet (0.14%) was sufficient to support development of the megalopa stage of this species. Widest mean carapace width (3.53 ± 0.08 mm) and highest mean dry weight (2.11 ± 0.22 mg) were recorded for juveniles that molted from megalopa fed live Artemia, whereas no megalopa in the unfed control treatment metamorphosed into crabs. The average development time from megalopa to the juvenile crab stage varied between the treatments, where megalopa fed live Artemia or MBD containing 0.2%, 0.4% or 0.8% total cholesterol showed the most synchronized molting (between 8.0 and 9.9 days). Longest development time was recorded for the megalopa fed diets containing 0.14% or 1% total cholesterol (both 11 days). Highest survival (74.3%) was recorded for the megalopa fed a diet containing 0.8% cholesterol. The results of this study are valuable in research to develop formulated diets for mud crab larvae as a replacement for live food in hatchery culture.     

Innate immune response and gene expression of Scylla paramamosain under Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection

An epidemic of ‘milky disease’ in the mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) generally breaks out in the fall when the crab is near maturity, resulting in large economic losses in crab farming. Vibrio parahaemolyticus has been proven to be one of the major pathogens. In this study, the mud crabs were challenged with V. parahaemolyticus, and their innate immune responses were investigated in terms of total haemocyte counts (THCs), haemocytic enzyme activities and gene expression levels during a 114‐h period. The THCs of the mud crabs decreased significantly after 42 h of exposure. The activities of the haemocytic enzymes, including acid phosphatase‐alkaline phosphatase, phenoloxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase and nitric oxidase synthethase, were significantly enhanced during the challenge course. The gene expression levels also significantly increased for all tested genes (proPO, Cu/Zn‐SOD, Prx, LYS, CRU and ALF) with the exception of CAT down‐regulated expression. The results may imply that the immune responses of the mud crab could be activated by the pathogens, and the data here will provide many clues for further systematic investigation of ‘milky disease’ caused by V. parahaemolyticus and the disease prevention in mud crab S. paramamosain.     

Influence of highly unsaturated fatty acids in live food on larviculture of mud crab Scylla paramamosain (Estampador 1949)

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) levels in rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) and Artemia on the survival, development and metamorphosis of mud crab Scylla paramamosain larvae. Five different lipid emulsions, varying in the level of total n‐3 and n‐6 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), DHA, EPA and ARA were used to manipulate the fatty acid profile of the live food. Fatty acid profiles of the live food and crab larvae at zoea one, three and five stages were analysed to study the HUFA uptake by the larvae. The fatty acid content of the live food affected the fatty acid profiles of the crab larvae. In both experiments, the survival rate in the zoeal stages was not statistically different among treatments. However, larval development rate and metamorphosis success were affected by the dietary treatments. In this respect, the DHA/EPA ratio in the live food seems to be a key factor. Enrichment emulsions with a very high (50%) total HUFA content but a low DHA/EPA ratio (0.6), or zero total HUFA content caused developmental retardation and/or metamorphosis failure. An emulsion with a moderate total HUFA (30%) and a high DHA/EPA ratio (4) was the best in terms of larval development during the zoeal stages and resulted in improved metamorphosis. Dietary ARA seemed to improve first metamorphosis, but its exact role needs further clarification. For the larval rearing of S. paramamosain, an enrichment medium containing about 30% total n‐3 HUFA with a minimum DHA/EPA ratio of 1 is recommended. Further investigation is needed on the total HUFA and optimum DHA/EPA ratio requirements for each crab larval stage.     

Effect of dietary cholesterol levels on growth performance,body composition and gene expression of juvenile mud crab Scylla paramamosain

A 56‐day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary cholesterol (CHOL) levels on growth performance, body composition and gene expression of juvenile mud crab (Scylla paramamosain). Four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated with 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2% and 1.6% CHOL supplemented, and the final dietary CHOL concentrations were 0.72%, 1.11%, 1.49% and 1.83% respectively. Each dietary treatment was performed with three replicates (28 crabs per replicate, initial body weight 0.04 g). At the termination of the experiment, although the survival had no statistic difference in all treatments, the mud crabs fed the lowest CHOL diet had the lowest survival rate. The weight gain (WG) of mud crab significantly increased with dietary CHOL level up to 1.11% and then significantly decreased with dietary CHOL level further increased. The total‐cholesterol (T‐CHOL) content in whole body had an increasing trend with the dietary CHOL level increased. Besides, dietary CHOL supplement generally increased the hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and the mud crabs fed diets CHOL1.11 and CHOL1.49 showed significantly higher value than those fed other diets. The hepatic aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity decreased slightly with dietary CHOL level up to 1.11% and then significantly increased with CHOL level further increased. The mRNA expression of ecdysone receptor (EcR) gene in the eyestalk obviously increased with dietary CHOL level up to 1.11% and then significantly decreased with dietary CHOL further increased. These results suggested that about 1.11% dietary CHOL seem fulfil to maintain good growth performance and healthy condition for juvenile S. paramamosain.     

Comparison of growth and survival of white shrimp postlarvae (Litopenaeus vannamei) fed dried Artemia biomass versus four commercial feeds and three crustacean meals

The use of dried Artemia biomass meal as an exclusive feed for postlarval white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) was compared with four commercial feeds and three crustacean meals in a series of trials. Postlarvae (PL1–PL6) were stocked at a density of 1.5–2.5/litres in 16 tanks (100 litres volume) and fed, ad libidum, five times a day, over 23–29 days. Feeding postlarval shrimp with dried Artemia biomass resulted in a significantly larger size than feeding with three of the commercial feeds, and the crustacean meals. There was no significant size difference observed in animals fed with Artemia biomass and the commercial 'Golden Pearls' feed for postlarvae, however the coefficient of variation among the size of the 'Golden Pearls' fed animals was significantly higher. The weight increase of animals fed with Artemia biomass was higher than in animals fed with all the tested feeds. The survival rate was not significantly different in animals fed with Artemia flakes from 'Salt Creek', 'Bio-Marine', 'Golden Pearls' and Artemia biomass, however the survival rate was significantly larger in animals fed with Artemia biomass than in animals fed with the crustacean meals and 'Artemac.' Results suggest that dried Artemia biomass is a well-suited feed for postlarval L. vannamei.     

Effects of diet and sediment type on survival, growth and moulting of juvenile tiger crab, Orithyia sinica L.

This study investigated the effects of different types of diet and sediment on the growth parameters of juvenile tiger crab Orithyia sinica under laboratory conditions, focusing on survival, growth and moulting. In the first set of experiments, juvenile tiger crabs were reared with five different types of sediment, i.e., soft sand, coarse sand, soft sand mixed with coarse sand, mud or bare bottom. Soft sand resulted in not only the highest survival rate of 78% but also the best rate of growth and feed intake. Crabs reared with a mud substrate showed the worst results in these parameters. The intermoult period, however, was not affected by sediment types. In the second set of experiments, crabs were fed different types of diet to determine their effects on the same growth parameters. Diets were composed of different combinations with Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum), brine shrimp (Artemia nauplii), microencapsulated feeds and marine diatom (Chaetoceros gracilis). Survival and growth in crabs fed Manila clam as a diet component were significantly higher than in those on other diets. The highest survival and growth were achieved with a diet that included all four components. These results provide valuable information on the appropriate bottom substrates and diet types necessary for artificial mass culture of the tiger crab.     

青蟹的营养需求研究及其配合饲料研制

青蟹属（Scylla）有锯缘青蟹（Scylla serrata），拟穴青蟹（S．paramamosain），紫螯青蟹（S．tranquebarica）和榄绿青蟹（S．olivacea）等4个种。我国以拟穴青蟹占绝对优势，它有个体大、生长快、适应性强、肉味鲜美、营养丰富等特点，已成为具有重要经济价值的海水养殖蟹类之一。     

Improved techniques for rearing mud crab Scylla paramamosain (Estampador 1949) larvae

A series of rearing trials in small 1 L cones and large tanks of 30–100 L were carried out to develop optimal rearing techniques for mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) larvae. Using water exchange (discontinuous partial water renewal or continuous treatment through biofiltration) and micro‐algae (Chlorella or Chaetoceros) supplementation (daily supplementation at 0.1–0.2 million cells mL⁻¹ or maintenance at 1–2 millions cells mL⁻¹), six different types of rearing systems were tried. The combination of a green‐water batch system for early stages and a recirculating system with micro‐algae supplementation for later stages resulted in the best overall performance of the crab larvae. No clear effects of crab stocking density (50–200 larvae L⁻¹) and rotifer (30–60 rotifers mL⁻¹) and Artemia density (10–20 L⁻¹) were observed. A stocking density of 100–150 zoea 1 (Z1) L⁻¹, combined with rotifer of 30–45 mL⁻¹ for early stages and Artemia feeding at 10–15 nauplii mL⁻¹ for Z3–Z5 seemed to produce the best performance of S. paramamosain larvae. Optimal rations for crab larvae should, however, be adjusted depending on the species, larval stage, larval status, prey size, rearing system and techniques. A practical feeding schedule could be to increase live food density from 30 to 45 rotifers mL⁻¹ from Z1 to Z2 and increase the number of Artemia nauplii mL⁻¹ from 10 to 15 from Z3 to Z5. Bacterial disease remains one of the key factors underlying the high mortality in the zoea stages. Further research to develop safe prophylactic treatments is therefore warranted. Combined with proper live food enrichment techniques, application of these findings has sustained a survival rate from Z1 to crab 1–2 stages in large rearing tanks of 10–15% (maximum 30%).     

Optimal first feed organism for South African mud crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scylla serrata</Emphasis> (Forskål) larvae

It is not known whether rotifers or Artemia nauplii are the best first food for South African mud crab Scylla serrata larvae. In order to test this, larvae were fed with five different test diets. These were rotifers for the first 8 days and newly hatched EG^® type Artemia nauplii (San Francisco Bay) from day 6 onwards (treatment R6A); newly hatched EG^® type Artemia nauplii throughout the rearing period (treatment EG); newly hatched Vinh-Chau strain (Vietnam) Artemia nauplii throughout the rearing period (treatment VC); decapsulated cysts of EG^® type Artemia throughout the rearing period (treatment DECAP); or decapsulated cysts supplemented with low densities of Artemia EG type Artemia nauplii (treatment MIX). Two experiments were conducted approximately 1 month apart using larvae from two different female crabs. Although results showed it is possible to rear S. serrata larvae through metamorphosis on Artemia nauplii exclusively, larval performance (development, survival and successful metamorphosis) was enhanced by the inclusion of rotifers as a first feed.No significant difference in performance was recorded between larvae fed on the two strains of Artemia nauplii. Larvae fed on decapsulated cysts in treatments DECAP and MIX performed poorly, but there were indications that decapsulated cysts and other inert diets may have potential as supplements to live food in the rearing of S. serrata larvae.     

Rearing the spotted seahorse Hippocampus kuda by feeding live and frozen copepods collected from shrimp ponds

This study evaluated the use of live and frozen copepods collected from shrimp ponds for rearing juveniles of the spotted seahorse Hippocampus kuda. Protein and HUFA contents in frozen copepods were all higher than in Artemia nauplii, the conventional live food for seahorse juveniles. The results of this study showed that copepods can be used as feed for rearing seahorse fry and juvenile. The spotted seahorse showed obvious preference for live copepods and rarely fed on dead copepods on the tank bottom. Furthermore, the combination of frozen copepods and live Artemia nauplii resulted in highest growth and highest survival of the experimental seahorses. Further research on possible effects of DHA:EPA ratio on survival and growth of young H. kuda is recommended.     

Mud crab pen culture: replacement of fish feed requirement and impacts on mangrove community structure

Brackishwater pond culture has been a major factor in mangrove loss in Southeast Asia, hence, the need to develop environment‐friendly technologies such as mud crab Scylla (Portunidae) culture in mangrove pens exists. This study evaluated the effects of mud crab netpen systems in central Philippines on mangrove macroflora, and the replacement of dietary fish with low‐cost pellets. Wild or hatchery‐sourced Scylla olivacea and Scylla serrata were stocked at 0.5–0.8 m⁻² in 167–200 m² nylon netpens (2.3 cm stretched mesh) in Avicennia‐dominated mangrove habitats. The feeding treatments were: (A) Zarraga: (1) no feeding (natural productivity), (2) no feeding for 1 month+supplementary feeding, (3) fish biomass and (4) low‐cost pellets, and (B) Batan: (1) fish biomass and (2) pellets+fish biomass. Feeds were given ad libitum twice daily. Growth and survival rates of S. olivacea in Zarraga pens were not significantly different among treatments, although crabs fed fish biomass had the highest survival, body weight and production. Similarly, growth and survival of S. serrata were not significantly different between the Batan treatments. Economic analysis of the latter gave a 38.5% return on investment (ROI) and 2.6 years payback period (PP) for pellets+fish biomass treatment compared with 27.5% ROI and 3.6 years PP for fish alone. Sensitivity analysis showed an improved economic performance of the pellets+fish biomass treatment by increasing the survival rate. Evaluation of mangrove community structure showed that crab culture reduced species diversity, numbers and biomass of seedlings and saplings, but not of mangrove trees. Therefore, mud crab pen culture is recommended for mangrove sites with mature trees, but not seedlings and saplings, and low‐cost pellets can reduce dependence on fish biomass.     

Induced out-of-season spawning of the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain (Estampador) and effects of temperature on embryo development

Treated with combined bilateral eyestalk ablation and maintenance of water temperature at 22.5±1.5 °C, mud crab Scylla paramamosain females with mature ovaries were induced to produce eggs outside the natural spawning season in subtropical southern China. Newly extruded eggs from a crab were incubated in vitro at 10, 15, 20, 25, 27, 30, 35 °C, respectively, and the embryonic development was closely monitored. Abnormal cell division was observed at temperatures 10 and 35 °C. At 15 °C, development remained at the gastrula stage by day 32 post‐spawn, at which time the experiment was terminated. Hatching of in vitro incubated eggs occurred between 20 and 30 °C. An increase in incubation temperature from 20 to 25 °C reduced the incubation duration by 14 days, 2.6 times of that measured for a similar 5 °C increase from 25 to 30 °C. Embryonic development of S. paramamosain was divided into stage 0–10, and the duration of each stage was recorded for each incubation temperature. The information obtained allows accurate prediction of hatching time of female crabs incubated under variable temperatures. Larvae hatched from in vitro incubated eggs were reared to reach first juvenile crab stage and their dry weights were similar to those of larvae hatched naturally.     

Size at sexual maturity and body size composition of mud crabs <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scylla</Emphasis> spp. caught in Don Sak,Bandon Bay,Gulf of Thailand

Size at sexual maturity and body size composition of mud crabs Scylla spp. were examined as the basis for settling a minimum landing size as a fishing regulation in Don Sak, Bandon Bay, Gulf of Thailand, which has suffered serious mangrove habitat degradation. Mud crabs were caught using baited traps and gill nets. Hooked metal rods were also used to lever the crabs out of their burrows inside the mangroves. Two mud crab species, S. paramamosain and S. olivacea, occur in the bay; S. paramamosain is the dominant species, accounting for 87% of the samples. The size at which 50% of the S. paramamosain females reached maturity (SM₅₀) was estimated as an external carapace width (ECW) of 112.0 mm based on the morphology of the abdomen. Allometric changes in the crushing chelae height to ECW ratio suggested that the SM₅₀ of S. paramamosain males occurred at 106.4 mm ECW. The body size composition revealed that mainly immature mud crabs were exploited in Don Sak. To maintain a sustainable fishery for mud crabs, fishing regulations—including a minimum landing size based on the SM₅₀ estimates—are essential, as is habitat restoration.     

Comparison of growth and survival of white shrimp postlarvae (Litopenaeus vannamei) fed dried Artemia biomass versus four commercial feeds and three crustacean meals

The use of dried Artemia biomass meal as an exclusive feed for postlarval white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) was compared with four commercial feeds and three crustacean meals in a series of trials. Postlarvae (PL1–PL6) were stocked at a density of 1.5–2.5/litres in 16 tanks (100 litres volume) and fed, ad libidum, five times a day, over 23–29 days. Feeding postlarval shrimp with dried Artemia biomass resulted in a significantly larger size than feeding with three of the commercial feeds, and the crustacean meals. There was no significant size difference observed in animals fed with Artemia biomass and the commercial 'Golden Pearls' feed for postlarvae, however the coefficient of variation among the size of the 'Golden Pearls' fed animals was significantly higher. The weight increase of animals fed with Artemia biomass was higher than in animals fed with all the tested feeds. The survival rate was not significantly different in animals fed with Artemia flakes from 'Salt Creek', 'Bio-Marine', 'Golden Pearls' and Artemia biomass, however the survival rate was significantly larger in animals fed with Artemia biomass than in animals fed with the crustacean meals and 'Artemac.' Results suggest that dried Artemia biomass is a well-suited feed for postlarval L. vannamei.