In this study, the potential of nematodes as an alternative live feed for the omnivorous larva of Penaeus indicus (Crustacea: Penaeidae) and the carnivorous larvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Palaemon elegans (Crustacea: Palaemonidae) was investigated. The results showed that M. rosenbergii and P. elegans larvae were unable to consume the nematodes. The larvae of these species fed Artemia for 8 days, displayed normal development and high survival (over 90%), but, similar to the starved controls. The larvae grown on the nematodes had all died by the 8th day of the experiments. P. indicus larvae fed nematodes from stage Protozoea 3 (PZ3) had similar growth (P>0.05) but higher survival than those fed the control feed (alg/Artemia) until stage postlarvae 1 (PL1) (P<0.05), 51% of PZ1 larvae fed on the nematodes metamorphosed into PL1 compared with 32% of those fed alg/Artemia control diet (P<0.05). In addition to the nematodes, provision of algae for only 1 day significantly improved larval survival and growth of P. indicus larvae. This study demonstrated that nematodes can be used as an alternative live feed for algae and Artemia in the culture of omnivore P. indicus but cannot be used as food in the larval culture of the M. rosenbergii and P. elegans carnivore species
