Improvement of water quality with probiotics inclusion during simulated transport of yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) larvae

Abstract The effects of using a commercial probiotic mixture (PM) (Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus sabtilis, Pedicoccus acidilactici and Lactobacillus acidophilus with a total count of 107 CFU/g) on water quality, bacterial population and the survival of Acanthopagrus latus larvae were evaluated during a 24-hour simulated transportation experiment. The one-day-old larvae were transported using purified seawater (as control) and purified seawater supplemented with 3 g of PM (as PM48 treatment). For the PM48, 3 g of PM was added to 1 L of purified seawater and after 30 min, mixed with 200L of purified seawater 48h prior to the main experiment. The obtained results showed that the use of probiotics led to an increase in larval survival up to 93.3%. Statistically, difference was found between control and PM48 at the initial sampling in terms of NO2. The pH of the control treatment showed a significant decrease at the end of the experiment. The investigation of a total number of bacteria and the total number of Vibrio spp. in water and fish larvae showed that within 48 hours, the probiotics became the dominated population in PM48 treatment. After 24 hours, water samples and larvae of control treatment showed a significant increase in bacterial load. In general, the obtained results showed that the use of probiotics played a significant role in maintaining water quality chemically and bacterially and caused more survival of larvae during transportation.