The global marine ornamental fish trade heavily relies on wild capture. Southeast Asia is a major exporter, while the US and Central Europe are primary importers of marine ornamental fish. This dependency poses significant ecological risks, prompting a shift toward aquaculture. Despite advances, challenges in larviculture hinder the replacement of wild capture. Research underscores the importance of understanding dietary needs during early larvae stage for successful aquaculture. Larvae consume various zooplankton, including rotifers, copepod nauplii, and ciliates, at their initial feeding stage. This study used fluorescent microspheres to track prey preference in yellow domino damsel at 1 and 3 days post hatch (dph), spinecheek clownfish at 0 dph, and pigfish larvae at 3 dph. Rotifers were the least preferred by all species, while copepod nauplii were favored by most larvae, confirming their potential as a primary feed organism. Ciliates, a novel and mostly unknown prey type in aquaculture, were also favored, highlighting their potential as a valuable prey organism for larvae that cannot consume larger prey due to their mouth gape size. Variations in prey preferences by species and developmental stage highlight the need for further research into identifying novel prey types to enhance sustainable aquaculture and reduce reliance on wild stocks.
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