Probiotics in Shrimp Farms: How They Change Biofloc Bacteria

What is it about?

Aquaculture, especially shrimp farming, increasingly uses biofloc technology and probiotics to boost production and reduce disease. While probiotics are beneficial for shrimp health, their full impact on the existing bacterial communities within these biofloc systems is often overlooked. This study investigated how adding commercial probiotics affects the natural bacterial diversity in biofloc within a whiteleg shrimp farm during the nursery phase. Using advanced sequencing methods, we found that two different commercial probiotic mixtures altered the overall bacterial composition, shifting the dominant groups compared to a control system without probiotics. Although the probiotics introduced new bacteria and changed diversity patterns, the native bacteria already present in the system continued to play a major role in shaping the overall bacterial community. Interestingly, these changes in bacterial diversity did not lead to significant differences in shrimp growth, survival, or feed conversion rates during this nursery period.

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Photo by Louis Reed on Unsplash

Photo by Louis Reed on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Understanding how probiotics affect the natural bacterial communities in shrimp farms is vital. It helps us manage these complex systems better, ensuring environmental stability and long-term sustainability in aquaculture.

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