Objective:  To investigate and describe the feeding biology of fairy shrimp.
Methodology and results: The nature of food items and uptake of phyto and zooplankton were studied in three different size classes i.e. immature forms (6 – 9 mm), mature males (20 – 22 mm), and mature females (11 – 14 mm). The composition of food items and percentage composition of phyto and zooplankton in the gut contents of the shrimps were analyzed. The rate of uptake of phytoplankton by immature forms was 81.26%, 85.34% by adult males and 86.3% by the adult females. Zooplankton uptake by adult males was 14.36% and 13.69% by the adult females. Among phytoplankton, Chlorophyceae constitutes 11.39% in immature forms, 6% in males, and 7.10% in females; Bacillariophyceae constitutes 11.39% in immature forms, 6% in males and 7.10% in females; while Cyanophyceae constitutes 28.06% in immature forms, 62.01% in males and 48.92% in female animals.
Conclusion and application of findings: Immature fairy shrimps feed on smaller organisms especially phytoplankton while adults feed on both phyto and zooplanktonic forms which is dependent on their availability in the medium. Feed preference has a profound influence on fecundity and also the information will be helpful for mass production activities.

Key words

fairy shrimp, gut contents, food items, phytoplankton, zooplankton, mass production

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