ZOOPLANKTON IN LARVICULTURE OF NEOTROPICAL FISHES

Because of the poor development of digestive system and swimming capability of young fish, larviculture of altricial neotropical fish presents for the management of the initial feeding. The feeding of the larvae must consider the size, density and quality of the prey offered. This document reviews the incidence of zooplankton in fish larvicultura, approaches the importance of larviculture in fish rearing, the importance of zooplankton as prey, and alternatives in the handling of cladocerans, copepods and rotifers for the feeding of larvae of neotropical fishes.