A 75-day 2 9 3 factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of two levels of dietary protein (32 and 40%) and two different carbon sources (rice flour-R and molasses-M), and without carbohydrate (control-C) in black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon juveniles (3.37 AE 0.04 g) at 100 nos. m À3 in 100 L fibre reinforced plastic tanks. Biofloc volume and total suspended solid were higher in molasses added groups (32 + M and 40 + M) followed by rice flour (32 + R and 40 + R) and controls (32C and 40C). Molasses and rice flour addition significantly reduced (P < 0.01) the total ammonia-N compared to controls. The highest Vibrio, Bacillus and Lactobacillus counts were recorded in 40 + M, 32 + M and 32 + R respectively. Among the treatments, significantly higher (P < 0.01) final body weight was recorded in 40 + R (8.5 AE 0.3 g), 40 + M (7.8 AE 0.3 g) and 32 + R (7.5 AE 0.4 g) compared to control groups, 32C (6.1 AE 0.3 g), 40C (6.4 AE 0.3 g) and molasses added group, 32 + M (5.7 AE 0.4 g). Rice flour supplementation significantly increased (P < 0.01) the total haemocyte count (910 6 cells mL À1 ) in 32 + R (45.7 AE 3.7) and 40 + R (44.3 AE 3.1) compared to controls, 32C (27.3 AE 3.4) and 40C (25.8 AE 0.9). Similarly, higher superoxide dismutase, catalase, serum protein and glucose were recorded in the rice flour added groups, 40 + R followed by 32 + R. Among the treatments, the highest level of prophenoloxidase (OD 490 nm, 0.3 AE 0.0) and survival after challenge with Vibrio harveyi (55.6%) was observed in 32 + R. The study elucidates that rice flour addition produces optimum level of biofloc with better growth and immune responses compared to molasses and control. Furthermore, rice flour addition at 32% protein level could replace 40% protein feed.

To compare the production and economic performance of two polyculture systems with different species combinations in brackishwater tide-fed ponds, a 180-day trial was carried out. In the first combination (T1), mullets (Mugil cephalus, Liza tade and L. parsia at 3 : 1 : 1.3 ratio) and tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) and in the second (T2), milkfish (Chanos chanos) and tiger shrimp were stocked keeping the fishes and shrimp at 8000 and 20 000 numbers ha )1 , respectively, in both treatments with duplicate ponds. Since shrimp was an important component of these two systems with open water exchange, the dynamics of heterotrophic bacteria (THB) including Vibrio spp. (TVC) and the occurrence of viral infection agents were studied to understand the disease risks. Among the fishes in T1, M. cephalus attained the highest final weight of 92.29 ± 4.36 g followed by L. tade and L. parsia with 80.40 ± 4.02 and 54.02 ± 2.11 g, respectively. C. chanos in T2 had the highest net weight gain (127.85 g) and daily weight gain (0.71 g day )1 ), while M. cephalus in T1 attained the highest specific growth rate (1.60% day )1 ). Growth parameters of tiger shrimp were almost similar in both treatments, with no significant differences (P > 0.05). Though total production of fishes and shrimp was lower in T1 (689 kg ha )1 180 day )1 ), it was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from T2 (721 kg ha )1 180 day )1 ). Monthly THB and TVC were not alarming and the absence of viral infections in shrimp indicated no disease risk. Total income from T1 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of T2, but net income and benefit-cost ratio were insignificantly different between the treatments (P > 0.05). The present findings indicate that upon availability of stocking materials, both polyculture systems would be suitable farming options.

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Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer juveniles were fed for 30 days to evaluate the efficacy of cellulolytic (Bacillus sp. DDKRC1.) and amylolytic (Bacillus subtilis DDKRC5.) bacteria supplemented diets. Four experimental groups were maintained in triplicate of which group I was the control group and received no bacterial supplementation. Groups II, III and IV were fed diet supplemented with B. subtilis DDKRC5. (14.25 9 10 7 CFU/mL), Bacillus sp. DDKRC1. (2.94 9 10 7 CFU/mL) and mixture of both the microbes (1:1 ratio), respectively, @ 1% (v/w). After 30 days of feeding, fish reared as group IV showed significantly higher (P < 0.01) weight gain (141.42%), survival (91.50%), protein efficiency ratio (1.18) and significantly lower (P < 0.01) FCR (2.15) than that of other groups.Nutrient digestibility parameters were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in group IV followed by groups III, II and I. Digestive cellulase, amylase and protease activities in the gastrointestinal tract were also significantly (P < 0.01) higher in group IV. Amylolytic and cellulolytic microbial count in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in groups II, III and IV as compared with that of control. It can be concluded that feed supplemented with mixture of B. subtilis DDKRC5. and Bacillus sp. DDKRC1. showed better performance in Asian seabass juveniles.

Evaluation of growth, feed utilization efficiency and immune parameters in tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) fed diets supplemented with or diet fermented with gut bacterium Bacillus sp. DDKRC1. isolated from gut of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) SummaryAn experiment was conducted to assess the effect of supplementation of cellulolytic gut bacterium with plant protein-based diet on growth, digestibility and digestive enzyme status of tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Bacillus sp. DDKRC1. (JN641289), a potential cellulolytic bacterium, isolated from the gut of Asian seabass was used as feed supplement in this experiment. The shrimps of group I, II and III were fed with control diet (without bacterial supplement, D1), diet supplemented with live Bacillus sp. DDKRC1. at 2.94 9 10 7 cfu per 100 g feed (D2) and diet fermented (48 hr) with same bacteria (D3) respectively. At the end of the 42 days experiment, shrimps of group II showed significantly better (p < .01) growth and protein efficiency ratio (PER) and lower (p < .01) feed conversion ratio (FCR) as compared to group I and III. Dry matter, cellulose, hemicellulose and lipid digestibilities were significantly (p < .01) higher in group II than other two groups. Cellulase, amylase and protease activities in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract were significantly (p < .01) higher in group II as compared to other two groups. Total heterotrophic count, amylolytic, cellulolytic and proteolytic bacterial counts in gut were significantly (p < .01) higher in group II as compared to other two groups. Haematological analysis indicated better (p < .05) immune response in groups II and III than control group. Diets D2 and D3 showed better effect on growth, digestibility, FCR, survival and immune response of P. monodon as compared to D1.