A Farmers’ Manual on the Production of Artemia in Kenyan salt ponds

Abstract

To succeed in culture operations of fin fishes and shellfishes, feeding the larval, juvenile and adult stages with appropriate, nutritionally balanced, feeds is considered as one of the major requirements in aquaculture practices. The discovery that the nauplii of the brine shrimp Artemia constitute an excellent food source for larval fish was a major breakthrough for the aquaculture industry. They are utilized as; freshly hatched nauplii, decapsulated cysts, adult Artemia commonly referred to as biomass, and as an ingredient in formulated feeds. The ability of the Artemia to produce cysts, their nutritional composition and the fact that cyst are easy to hatch requiring 18-24 hours incubation in natural seawater has led to their extensive use as live feed in aquaculture. Cysts may be stored for long periods and hatched on demand to provide a convenient form of live feed for larval fish and crustaceans. Over 2000 tonnes of dry Artemia cysts are marketed worldwide annually. The nauplii of the brine shrimp Artemia constitute the most widely used live food item for fish. Artemia are more widely used in aquaculture, because they are easy for operation, rich in nutrients and of small size, which makes them suitable for feeding fish and crustacean larvae live or after drying.