Abstract: To determine the optimal dietary inclusion level of small peptides for Macrobrachium rosenbergii zoeae larvae, five isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated by adding small peptide protein at levels of 0 (SP0), 2.5% (SP2.5), 5% (SP5), 7.5% (SP7.5), and 10% (SP10), resulting in small peptide concentrations of 0, 0.98%, 1.97%, 2.95%, and 3.94%, respectively. A total of 125000 zoeae larvae initial weight: (0.17±0.01) mg from the same batch of spawners were selected and randomly distributed into 5 treatment groups, with 5 tanks (200 L each) per group and 5000 zoeae larvae per tank. The experiment lasted for 31 days. The results showed that the survival rate and post-larval yield rate in the SP2.5 group were significantly higher than those in the SP0 group (P<0.05). Broken-line regression on the post-larval yield rate showed that the optimal dietary inclusion level of small peptides was 0.907%. Final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and anti-stress death rate in the SP2.5 group were significantly lower than those in the SP10 group (P<0.05). Broken-line regression based on anti-stress death rate indicated an optimal small peptides inclusion level of 1.14%. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was the lowest in the SP2.5 group, significantly lower than that in the SP7.5 group (P<0.05). Anti-stress death rates in the SP2.5 and SP5 groups were significantly lower than that in the other groups (P<0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the SP5 group was significantly higher than that in the SP0 group (P<0.05), while the metamorphosis rate in the SP5 group was significantly lower than that in the SP0 group (P<0.05). Dietary supplementation with small peptides significantly enhanced the activities of both AKP and ACP (P<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with small peptides can improve the post-larval yield rate and stress resistance of M. rosenbergii zoeae larvae. It is recommended that the dietary inclusion level of small peptides for M. rosenbergii zoeae larvae range from 0.907% to 1.14%.