Metamorphosis to adulthood

The newly born shrimp goes through four stages before becoming an adult:

• 1) Nauplius :
  • This is the name given to the first larval stage.
  • The animal’s length is about 0,5 mm; it has only one ocellus, and a nonsegmented body. It feeds on vitellus.
  • This stage is divided into five sub stages which last between
    24 and 48 hours.

• 2) Zoea:
  • The zoea stage is reached after the fifth nauplius metamorphosis
  • In this stage the animal’s cephalothorax separates from the abdomen. It swims forward and feeds on microalgae.
  • This stage is divided into three sub stages which last between
    4 to 5 days.