Integrating microbial biotechnology, functional nutrition, and biofloc technology for sustainable snakehead murrel (Channa striata) aquaculture

Snakehead murrel (Channa striata) is a high-value freshwater fish with important nutritional, medicinal, and aquaculture attributes. However, production intensification is constrained by larval mortality, infectious diseases, variable feed quality, and the economic and environmental costs of protein-rich diets. This review critically evaluates microbial biotechnology, functional nutrition, and biofloc technology as complementary strategies for sustainable C. striata production, while distinguishing direct species-specific evidence from comparative or mechanistic evidence obtained from other teleosts and in vitro systems. Direct C. striata studies support strain-specific probiotic and synbiotic benefits, alternative protein substitution, digestive enzyme and taurine optimization, diet-responsive gut microbiota, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism. In contrast, controlled dose-response evidence for dietary monosodium glutamate, in vivo microbial conversion of glutamate to γ-aminobutyric acid, and an integrated monosodium glutamate-γ-aminobutyric acid-producing probiotic-biofloc system are remain limited. Therefore, the integrated configuration should be regarded as a testable framework rather than an established production technology. Priority research needs include defining species-specific dose ranges and chronic safety, quantifying sodium and nitrogen loads, validating probiotic strain stability and γ-aminobutyric acid productivity, controlling biofloc solids and aeration demand, and establishing farm-scale economics, regulatory compliance, producer usability, and consumer safety. MSG-probiotic integration remains a testable strategy for C. striata culture. C. striata trials support strain-specific probiotic and synbiotic benefits. Gut microbiome shifts are documented, but gut-brain-immune causality is unproven. Biofloc integration requires species-specific technical and economic validation. Precision nutrition and digital monitoring can advance sustainable murrel culture.