Mass Culture of Live Feed Organisms for Fish and Invertebrates

Most larvae of fish and invertebrates are carnivorous. Fish larvae must be fed live foods which have the nutrients and (exogenous) enzymes they need, until their own digestive systems mature enough to eat formulated feed. Different animal species are consumed by larval fish and invertebrates depending on the size of the larval fish or invertebrate. Zooplankters, Rotifers, Cladocreans and Artemia are among the most common animals cultured to feed larvae in commercial fish and shrimp hatcheries. After the fish has developed its own digestive system it can switch to dry formulated feed. This presentation illustrates different organisms cultured as live feed for fish and invertebrates.