This study selected the optimal microalgal species for mass culture of a brackish water copepod Paracyclopina nana. Fifteen microalgal species were tested to examine nauplius production and the survival and maturation of brood females. Total and daily nauplius production were highest in P. nana fed Tetraselmis suecica followed Isochrysis galbana, Dunaliella tertiolecta, and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. With a monospecific microalgal diet, the total density was highest with P. nana fed I. galbana, at 63.3 inds./mL. With a mixed microalgal diet, the total density of P. nana fed T. suecica+I. galbana was higher than that fed other mixed diets, although there was no difference between a monospecific diet of I. galbana and a mixed diet of T. suecica+I. galbana. Examining the fatty acid composition of P. nana, the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was highest in P. nana fed T. suecica at 5.4% while the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content was highest I. galbana diet at 31.9%. Although no DHA was detected in T. suecica, P. nana fed this microalgal species had a high DHA composition of 24.3%. We suggest that the optimal microalgal species for the mass culture of P. nana is T. suecica which is easy to culture on masse and has a high linolenic acid content.