Feeding experiments were conducted on Panaeus japonicus larvae using Chaetoceros gracilis plus Artemia nauplii, an artificially prepared diet (Diet-B), and two commercial feeds (Tapes and mysid meals) in a randomized complete block design with two replicates per diet. The highest survival rate of 34.2% was obtained when the lavae were fed with Diet-B. C. gracillis plus Artemia nauplii feeding gave a survival rate of 21.6%. Growth measured in terms of development, was fastest using C. gracilis plus Artemia nauplii. Larvae metamorphosed into M sub(3) stage in 7 days with an average gain in length of 0.46 mm/day. Diet-B feeding resulted in a comparable growth, the larvae reaching M sub(3) stage in 8 days with an average gain in length of 0.30 mm/day. Results obtained in this study demonstrate that the early larval stages of P. japonicus) can be reared with feeding of Diet-B.