Nauplii of the anostracan Chirocephalus ruffoi were grown until sexual differentiation under standard laboratory conditions (18 ± 1°C temperature; 12L/12D photoperiod; 1600 lux intensity; 200 individuals L⁻¹ density) and fed algae (Selenastrum capricornutum), baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), or a lipid-enriched yeast (Lansy PZ). In parallel experiments, we evaluated survival, development, and increase in body length and weight (wet and dry). Differences among the treatments were analyzed by ANCOVA and Newman-Keuls multiple range tests. The length-weight growth data, log-transformed, were fitted using an orthogonal least squares method. The results show that food type has marked effects on the growth rate and survival of the animals. As previously shown in terms of nutritional effectiveness, enriched yeast produces the best culture results.