An Overview of the Freshwater Cladoceran Daphnia magna (Straus, 1820) and Its Application in Fish Larviculture

Over the last three decades, aquaculture has become increasingly important, leading to the commercial viability of various shellfish and finfish species. The production of live feed is gaining popularity as a way to enhance the nutritional quality of species raised in aquaculture. Daphnia is a type of small crustacean belonging to the Brachiopoda family, commonly found in freshwater environments. Daphnia spp. serves as an excellent natural food source for tropical fish fry and has emerged as an alternative to traditional fish feeds. Utilizing Daphnia in aquaculture offers benefits such as low cost and ease of cultivation. This study addresses the identification of Daphnia, its reproduction and life cycle, nutritional value, significance in aquaculture, and methods of cultivation.