Effects of dietary probiotic supplementation, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain Be7 on growth and survival of Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract

The aquaculture sector has experienced disruptions in its ability to feed the expanding population due to the existence of disease outbreaks in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultivation. Antibiotic treatment in mitigating disease may not be the best alternative because it harms both humans and the environment. To solve this issue, probiotics as a feed supplement seems very promising as an alternative. This research aimed to study the effects of probiotic supplementation Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain BE7 on the growth and survival of the O. niloticus. In this research, 2 groups were studied, which were the treatment and control groups. Juvenile O. niloticus in the treatment group was fed with fish feed coated with L. plantarum BE7 at a concentration of 1×109 CFU/mL (1 mL/g) while in the control group, the O. niloticus was fed with fish feed only. The feeding was administered with a feeding rate of 5% of the bodyweight twice daily at 09:30 and 15:30 for 35 days. Each group consists of three replicates. The growth performances observed in this research were survival rate, death rate, absolute growth rate of weight, length, and width, specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, and temperature were the water quality parameters measured. The results showed that the juvenile O. niloticus fed with probiotic had a better survival rate, and higher absolute growth weight, length and width, as well as, specific growth rate (P>0.05). The treatment group also was recorded a lower death rate and feed conversion ratio compared to the juvenile fed without probiotics. The water quality was observed not affected by the presence of the probiotic in the water. The probiotic supplementation in the O. niloticus diet may help the digestive system of the fish by improving its feed digestibility; therefore, more nutrients are absorbed from fish feed, resulting in higher growth performance. As a conclusion, probiotic diet improves growth and survival of O. niloticus.