This study was conducted to compare the suitability of three microalgal species (Tetraselmis chuii, Skeletonema costatum and Rhinomonas reticulata), both individually and in combination, as food for Penaeus indicus during larval culture. To determine the best feeding density, each alga was fed to protozoea 1 (PZI) larvae from 10 to 80 cells mL -1 . The best algal-cell density, promoting the highest survival rate, greatest growth and fastest larval development, was obtained at 60-70 cells mL -1 with a combination of T. chuii and S. costatum. Low cell densities (10-20 cells mL -1 ) were not effective. The diatom S. costatum produced better larval survival and growth than those of the flagellates (P0.05). These results demonstrate that P. indicus PZI larvae, at 28°C and 25ppt salinity, can be reared successfully on the mixed algal feed of T. chuii (25 cells mL -1 ) and S. castatum (35 cells mL -1 ) together with five Artemia nauplii mL -1 from MI onwards until metamorphosis in only 6-7 days.

This study was conducted to compare the suitability of three microalgal species (Tetraselmis chuii, Skeletonema costatum and Rhinomonas reticulata), both individually and in combination, as food for Penaeus indicus during larval culture. To determine the best feeding density, each alga was fed to protozoea 1 (PZI) larvae from 10 to 80 cells mL -1 . The best algal-cell density, promoting the highest survival rate, greatest growth and fastest larval development, was obtained at 60-70 cells mL -1 with a combination of T. chuii and S. costatum. Low cell densities (10-20 cells mL -1 ) were not effective. The diatom S. costatum produced better larval survival and growth than those of the flagellates (P0.05). These results demonstrate that P. indicus PZI larvae, at 28°C and 25ppt salinity, can be reared successfully on the mixed algal feed of T. chuii (25 cells mL -1 ) and S. castatum (35 cells mL -1 ) together with five Artemia nauplii mL -1 from MI onwards until metamorphosis in only 6-7 days.