The present investigation was undertaken for the purpose of selecting suitable food for the cultivation of the larvae of Penaeus penicillatus in different developmental stages, eleven species of unicellular algae, three species of animal food and two species of substitute food were used in the comparative experiments, the metamorphsis and survival rate of the larvae were taken as the index, The results obtained were as follows:1. Unicellular alges and soybean milk have been used respectively as food for the zoaea larvae, the results of effect are arranged in the following order:Isochrysis galhuma, Dicrateria zhanjangensis, Chaetoceros calcitrous, soybean milk Chaetoceros muelleri, Phaecdactylum tricornutum, Nitzschia closterium, Platymonas subcordiformis, Chlorella japonicus, microscopic alga (un-identified),Chlamydomonas sp., Dunaliclla sp.2. Single animal and egg yolk have respectively been used as food for the larvae (1st Mysis stage to 1st Post-larvae). The results of effects are shown in the following order: Ostra cucullata larvae (including fertilization egg and trochophora stage), Artemia saline (naupliar lavae), Brachionus plicatilis, egg yolk.3. The experiment shows that the conversion of food begins in the 3rd zoaea stage. The 1st Mysis stage is complex food, and during this period of development, using single animal or plant food to feed the larvae, the effect is nearly the same. But the effect of mixing food with the animal and plant is better than single animal or plant food.