Despite the historical significance of Artemia franciscana as live food for many fish and shrimp larvae and efforts to co-feed live Artemia with micro-particulate feeds, the ideal co-feeding combination for early larval and post-larval stages of Litopenaeus vannamei remains unknown. In two independent larval experiments, six different concentrations of Artemia nauplii were investigated as a co-feed with two different commercial micro-particulate diets. In two consecutive experimental trials, postlarvae performance was assessed in terms of survival, growth, MGR, osmotic stress test, fatty acid, amino acid and whole-body composition. L. vannamei postlarvae were tested in two trials in which micro-particulate diets were fed to satiation and a range of Artemia feeding levels were employed.
Overall, increased Artemia inclusion levels significantly improved survival during the hatchery cycle (PL15) up to a level of 5,900 g of Artemia per million L. vannamei postlarvae produced. Additionally, survival further increased with increased inclusion of Artemia when continually co-feeding during extended nursery life stages up to PL 35. Biochemical analysis of body tissue and feeds were not able to offer an explanation for the improved survival rates recommending that additional research will be required to further elucidate the reasons for improved survival with increased levels of Artemia co-feeding.