This paper describes a preliminary growth experiment with a strain of the astaxanthin producer Haematococcus pluvialis (Chlorophyceae, Volvocales). Cultures with 4 different cell compositions in terms of density and coloration of aplanospores and macrozooids, were kept under 20°C ± 2°C, 70µE.m-2.s-1, 12h light : 12h dark and appropriate culture media for about 900h. 2ml samples were collected periodically, in order to determine cells density. Results indicated a similar growth pattern to all cultures, where green macrozooids were dominant in the first days being numerically got over by aplanospores after aproximatelly 300h. Maximal number of aplanospores were attained at 800h. The experiment showed that the strain is viable and can be used to physiological studies about optimal growth conditions and astaxanthin production.