<![CDATA[Microalga diets can enhance rotifer growth, biochemical composition, and overall nutritional quality, but variations in species composition can lead to inconsistent outcomes. This study examined the effects of feeding a mixture of microalgae species on the growth, nutrition, and culture conditions of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. Two experiments were conducted on a semi-scale outdoor culture. First, rotifers were fed one species, Nannochloropsis oculate, vs. two species, Coccolithus sp. + N. oculate for 30 days. Second, rotifers were fed two species, Chlorella vulgaris + Pavlova sp., vs. three species, C. vulgaris + N. oculate + Chaetoceros sp., in ratios of 1:1:1 and 1:1:2. The first experiment showed there was no significant difference in the rotifer growth fed by one species, N. oculate and two species of Coccolithus sp. + N. oculate. Still, the two species had substantial changes and had higher nutrition after 30 days than the single species. The second experiment indicated that rotifer growth fed by two species, C. vulgaris-Pavlova sp., was significantly higher than that fed by three species, C. vulgaris + N. oculate + Chaetoceros, in both ratios. However, rotifer nutrition did not significantly differ between the two species and the three species after 5 days. Nutrient levels and bacterial densities variation in the rotifer culture environments were not statistically different between feeding regimes. Vibrio bacteria decreased over time. The findings highlighted that feeding a mix of two microalgae species for a longer duration increases rotifer growth and nutrition, supporting efficient rotifer culture management.]]>
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