Effects of probiotic supplementation in rearing mud crab larvae (Scylla paramamosain estampador, 1949)

The research was conducted to evaluate effects of probiotics supplementation on growth performance and survival rate of mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) larvae. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with 4 diets supplemented with various probiotics: (i) Control (w/o supplementation), (ii) L. acidophilus, (iii) B. subtilis, and (iv) a mixture of L. acidophilus and B. subtilis. A total of 12 composite tanks were filled with 60 L sterilized saline water (salinity 26 ppt) with a stocking density of 200 larvae/L and water exchange was controlled every 3 days (25% of the water volume). The probiotics (104 CFU/mL) were added separately to the experimental tanks every 3 days over a culture period. The L. acidophilus supplementation resulted in significantly higher total probiotics density (16.38 x 104 CFU/mL) compared with the control (6.37 x 104 CFU/mL) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the control showed the highest Vibrio spp. density (6.67 x 103 CFU/mL) which differed significantly (P < 0.05) from remaining treatments with probiotics supplementation. The larval stage index (LSI) of mud crab larvae in probiotic supplemented treatments did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). The control had the lowest Crablet 1 ’s survival rate (7.51%) which differed significantly from remaining treatments (P < 0.05). In contrast, the L. acidophilus-supplemented treatment achieved the highest survival rate (10.04%). In conclusion, the obtained results suggested that L. acidophilus supplementation was considered the most potential approach to mud crab larvae production.