Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus on the Growth Performance and Morphometry of the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus on the growth performance of the genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) (Oreochromis niloticus). A total of 120 fingerlings were acquired, assigned randomly into 4 groups (n=30/ group) received one of four experimental diets each (30% crude protein supplemented with either T1-L. plantarum1x10 8 cfu), T2-(P. pentosaceus 1x10 8 cfu), T3-(L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus1x10 8 cfu) or (T0-(No probiotics) for 60 days in a triplicate manner (n=10/replicate/aquarium of 1 ft 3). Growth performance was assessed by final weight (FW) weight gain (WG), average daily weight gain (AWG), specific growth rate (SGR, %), percent % weight gain (% WG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Morphometry was also taken for total length (TL); standard length (SL); dorsal fin length (DFL); head length (HL); eye diameter (ED); pectoral fin length (PFL); pelvic fin length (PvFL); anal fin length (AFL), and caudal fin length (CFL). Fish treated with T3 had the highest growth performance indicated by FW (36.00 +/- 1.13g), WG (29.86 +/- 0.57g), AWG (0.49 +/- 0.01g), SGR (2.94 +/- 0.04% day-1) WG (%) (487.12 +/- 16.18) and FCR (1.35 +/- 0.02). T1 and T2 did not differ significantly (P>0.05) from each other but improved (P<0.05) as compared to control. Probiotic treatments significantly (P<0.05) affected the morphometric parameters also. The highest TL (13.94 +/- 0.33cm), SL (11.74 +/- 0.33cm), DFL (2.14 +/- 0.14cm), HL (3.4 +/- 0.09cm), ED (0.89 +/- 0.02cm), PFL (3.34 +/- 0.09cm), PvFL (2.44 +/- 0.11cm), AFL (1.88 +/- 0.09cm), and CFL (2.23 +/- 0.11cm) were observed in T3 followed by T1, T2, and control. The study concluded that probiotics bacteria supplementation in GIFT feed promoted growth performance and improved morphometry. The consortium form of probiotics L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus as feed additives could be used for improved growth performance.