Evaluation of dietary supplementation of probiotic on growth and survival of Cyprinus carpio fingerlings

The present study was carried out to examine the influence of dietary supplementation of probiotic Micrococcus endophyticus (ME) on growth, survival and biochemical profiles of freshwater Cyprinus carpio fingerlings. The formulated feed was prepared using basic ingredients with different concentrations of probiotic at 2 (ME-2), 4 (ME-4) and 6 (ME-6) per cent levels besides a control group with no probiotic. Four groups of C. carpio fingerlings were fed at the above feeding regimes for 40 d. Morphometric parameters, feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR) and percentage of weight gain (PWG) of fingerlings were recorded at the end of the experimental period. The final length (5.70±0.54 cm), weight (1.50±0.28 g), PWG (350.37±6.94%), SGR (4.99±0.34%) and survival rate (94.00±2.00%) of fingerlings fed on ME-6 feed were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the fingerlings fed the control feed. The FCR were significantly (P<0.05) lower (1.01±0.36) in fingerlings provided with ME-6 probiotic pelletized feed; however, no significant (P>0.05) variation between ME-2 and ME-4 feeding regimes were apparent. Body composition of fish such as protein (22.35±1.46%) and NFE (16.57±0.51%) was high in fishes fed with ME-6 feed compared to the control. It is concluded that pelleted feed supplemented with Micrococcus endophyticus as a probiotic at a six per cent level produced better growth performance and biochemical profile of C. carpio fingerlings.