This work investigates the factors controlling production and determines the biophysical properties of cross-linked protein coated microencapsulated diets, with a view to enhancing their acceptability and digestibility to omnivorous and carnivorous larvae. To estimate optimal feed larvae of Penaeus monodon facilitate live transporEatioon knowledge of the species, the rate/ temperature and energetic investigated. levels required for rearing on microencapsulated diets, and add to the biological relationship between metabolic s of the larval stages were Also described, are laboratory growth and survival trials with P. monodon larvae fed on cross-linked protein microencapsu ae diets. Success with P. monodon larvae, led to investigations on acceptability, growth an energetics of juvenile P. monodon reared on an artificial diet. For comparison, a similar line of approach was adopted with the carnivorous larvae of Homarus gammarus. Studies on the physiological energetics _OT the ä were followed by investigations on acceptability, growth and digestibility of artificial diets fed to H. cammarus larvae. The final discussion attempts to correlate e contrasting larval growth/ survival resu