Inclusion of Probiotics in Feeding Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer) Fingerlings Improves Growth Performance, Body Composition, and Digestive Enzyme Activity

Abstract

Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer) fingerlings (4.21±0.68 g) were subjected to a 90-day feeding trial to evaluate the effects of various feeds and probiotic supplementation on growth performance, body composition, and digestive enzyme activities under controlled nursery conditions. The fish were fed three experimental diets: Feed CPFA and Feed CPFB, which are Commercial Pellet Feeds (CPF), and Feed C, which is a basal diet containing of trash/low-valued fish without probiotics. The other treatments included these basal diets supplemented with probiotics - SSP (Single-strain probiotics) and MSP (Multi-strain probiotics). Nine treatments, with three replicates, tested three diets, which included without probiotics, single-strain, and multi-strain probiotics. Fingerlings were stocked at 10 fish per 80-litre tank. The results indicated that growth parameters were significantly influenced (P<0.05) by different diets. The fish fed on multi-strain probiotics had significantly higher final body weight (46.17±0.90 g), weight gain (41.07±0.40 g), daily growth rate (0.45±0.00 g/day), specific growth rate (1.42±0.02 g/day), survival rate (100%), and feed conversion ratio than those fed on single-strain probiotics and without probiotics. Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) in proximate composition were also observed among the fish-fed different diets. Probiotic feeding improved the protein, fat, and moisture content of Seabass fingerlings. Probiotics also enhanced the activities of digestive enzymes such as amylase, lipase, and protease, and altered the fatty acid profile. These findings highlight the potential of probiotic-enriched diets in enhancing growth, digestion, and nutritional quality in Asian Seabass, supporting their application in sustainable aquaculture practices.