Abstract: The effect of zooplankton form on growth and survival of Clarias gariepinus CG(m) X CG(f), Heterobranchus bidorsalis HB(m) X HB(f) and their reciprocal hybrid crosses were studied. Hatched larvae of crosses were stocked into 4 liter capacity circular plastic tanks at 6 fry per liter in quadruplicates under various treatments viz:.Live daphnia, frozen daphnia, dried daphnia, salted daphnia and decysted artemia (control). They were fed for the first 2 weeks on the various zooplankton forms at 6 cells per ml thrice daily on the first week, 10cells per ml on the second week and then on a 50% protein diet twice daily for the following 3 weeks. Results indicate that live daphnia treatment groups had highest growth rate followed closely by decysted artemia treatments except in HB(m) X HB(f) where decysted artemia had a higher growth performance. Dried daphnia had the least value under the four crosses. Highest growth value of 436mg(live daphnia) and least value of 134mg(dried daphnia) were seen both under CG(f) X HB(m). Apart from the Control and live daphnia treatments which showed no significant differences between them except under CG(m) XHB(f) , statistical analysis revealed significant differences (P 0.05) between treatment results for all crosses. Results of Average daily growth rate (ADG) also followed the same trend as in growth performance results. Survival percentage was generally high in all treatments for all crosses ranging from 50% to 100%. Highest survival values of 100% was observed under the live daphnia treatment in CG(m) X CG(f) and CG(f) X HB(m) crosses. The least survival value of 50% was seen under Dried daphnia in HB(m) X HB(f). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in values of percentage survival between treatments for individual crosses (P 0.05). Among the processed daphnia treatments, all four crosses were found to grow best under the salted daphnia treatment. Thus for the preservation of daphnia cells in feeding clariid catfishes, the zooplankton is better preserved either salted and or frozen depending on which clariid cross is to be reared. However, the maximum shelf life under storage that would give the maximum growth and survival rates still needs to be investigated.