The use of the inert, dry commercial baby food ‘Nestum’ can be recommended
for the biomass production of Artemia under controlled conditions as a relatively
cheap alternative to the expensive and labour-intensive production of microalgae.
Additionally, through the development of cheap enrichment techniques, it is now
possible to offer for aquacultural purposes enriched Artemia biomass with a high
nutritional value and with an adequate fatty acid profile as a feed for aquatic
organisms (Le´ger et al., 1987). The demand for enriched Artemia biomass with a
constant and high nutrient value, free of pathogens, and produced under controlled
environmental conditions to induce ovarian maturation of shrimp is increasing
significantly, and more and more will replace the expensive polychaete (Nereis
di6ersicolor, Americonuphis reesei ) and bloodworm (Glycera spp.) in shrimp hatcheries,
at least in part. However, more research is needed to identify potentially
active ingredients and their optimal doses that could be included in the inert feed
to evaluate the nutritional value of enriched versus unenriched Artemia biomass.