Abstract: Within the aquaculture industry, growth rates of juvenile abalone can be accelerated by identifying the optimum type of feed. Both natural and artificial feed were reviewed in relation to the structural and digestive capabilities of abalone. The consumption of diatoms was largely dependent on their morphology, specifically their attachment strength to the substrate. H. discus hannai less than ~500 μm Shell Length (SL) initially consumed diatomic secretions and thereafter the diatoms themselves. The diatoms consumed at ~500 μm SL were easily consumed as they were loosely attached to the substrate, for example Navicula ramosissima. However, N. ramosissima was not digested efficiently and was passed out of the digestive system whole. The radula of H. discus hannai between 500-1000 μm SL had undergone various morphological changes. The clearance angle of the radula increased so that the abalone could efficiently excavate strongly attached diatoms from the substrate. For H. discus hannai and H. rubra >1000 μm SL, larger highly adhesive diatoms, for example Achnanthes longipes were more suitable because during grazing the frustule was ruptured allowing the abalone to consume the cell contents. The contents of artificial feeds can be manipulated to induce accelerated growth rates in abalone, therefore making them a suitable substitute for natural feeds. The optimum level of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates was found to be 27-35, <5.58 and 30-60%, respectively. High levels of proteins and carbohydrates in the feed were tolerated as abalone produced sufficient proteases and carbohydrases to digest the feed efficiently. However, the low levels of lipids in the feed could be attributed to the low lipase activity in the digestive system. Fishmeal was identified as being the optimum source of protein for accelerated growth rates in H. midae. However, there was insufficient data to determine the optimum sources of lipids and carbohydrates. The metabolism of many gastropods including abalone, is based on the utilization of carbohydrates, therefore future research should be focused on carbohydrates when developing nutritionally balanced feeds.