An experiment was conducted for 28 days to evaluate the productive response of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) postlarvae, intensively nursed in autotrophic or heterotrophic microcosm-based treatments, without Artemia and zero water exchange. The autotrophic system was based on the promotion of microalgae as the main primary producers. The heterotrophic system was based on the promotion of bacteria as the main primary producers. The control was fed a conventional diet. Bioflocs and biofilms were used to promote biota in the autotrophic and heterotrophic systems. There were no differences in temperature, salinity, or DO among treatments. The chlorophyll a concentration and microalgae density were much greater in the control and autotrophic system than in the heterotrophic. The concentration of heterotrophic bacteria was significantly higher in the heterotrophic than in the autotrophic system and control. Individual weight gain was higher in the control (81±2 mg) and heterotrophic (77±8 mg) treatments than in the autotrophic (58±10 mg) but survival was better in the autotrophic (86%) than control (77%) and heterotrophic (76%) treatments. Final biomass was statistically similar in all treatments, as well as the feed conversion ratio which ranged from 0.65 (heterotrophic) to 0.69 (autotrophic). The increased natural productivity caused a positive productive response in the shrimp postlarvae. Such strategies can be an adequate alternative when Artemia is unavailable. The IJA appears exclusively as a peer-reviewed on-line open access journal at http://www.siamb.org.il Sale of IJA papers is strictly forbidden.