The current study was aimed to compare the growth performance of Penaeus vannamei by supplementing the commercial and isolated probiotics in the feed. The animals (0.045 ± 0.005g) were stocked at a density of 500/m3 in triplicates for a 60days trial. The probiotic strains previously isolated from biofloc culture systems (K. Pneumoniae, B. megaterium, E. profundum, P. balearica and P.stutzeri) were selected based on its antimicrobial activity against the pathogens (Aeromonas and Vibrio sp.). Suitable carbon source has been identified by inoculating these probiotic strains in five different carbon sources namely Glycerol, distillery spent wash, glucose, maltose and sucrose at the rate of 1%. Based on the probiotic growth and cell dry weight, distillery spentwash was found to perform well among the other carbon sources. The probiotic strains were inoculated in 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0% of distillery spentwash to identify the optimal carbon percentage. The isolates showed a better performance in terms of growth and cell dry weight when it has been inoculated with 0.5% of distillery spentwash. The treatment group includes control (C), biofloc (T1), commercial probiotic (T2), isolated probiotic (in nutrient broth) (T3), isolated probiotic (in 0.5% distillery spentwash) (T4). The commercial probiotic has been supplemented as directed whereas the isolated probiotics were supplemented at the rate of 10ml/ 100g of feed. Final weight of the shrimps in the treatment groups were as follows: C- 1.7, T1- 1.03, T2- 1.1, T3- 2.25 and T4- 2.47g. The highest weight gain was found in treatment group fed with isolated probiotic supplemented with 0.5% distillery spentwash as carbon source (T4).Histology analysis of the hepatopancreas of the shrimp reared under T1 and T4 revealed there was a mild increase in the B and R cell vacuoles. The present study provided an insight in the use of probiotics isolated from biofloc culture systems.
Keywords: probiotics, carbon source and distillery spent wash