Mekong delta, south Vietnam, Artemia is fedwith algae-richwater from
fertilized ponds as amain food source, alternatively supplementedwith
inert feeds (such as rice bran and soybean meal) and animal wastes
(chicken manure, pig dung) (Anh et al., 2009; Baert et al., 1997). In
such open systems, the naturally occurring bacterial flora growing on
the non-consumed and decomposing nutritionally rich food can also
be a direct source of food for Artemia, considering the abundant availability
of bacteria and the ability of Artemia to ingest themby filter feeding.
Though bacteria are believed to be an important food source for
filter feeding Artemia, the exact dietary role of bacteria in open culture
systems, orwhether they can be effectively utilized by Artemia is poorly
understood.