Biofloc technology degrades waste into useful resources exploiting microbes and can be used in zero‐water exchange systems. To study the effect of different biofloc systems on haematological and metabolic response of Labeo rohita fingerlings, a 60‐days experiment was conducted using four long lasting carbon sources. Seven hundred and fifty fingerlings having mean weight of 4.80 ± 0.12 g were randomly distributed into 15 tanks (n = 50 per tank). Five experimental groups were set in triplicate; T1 (Tapioca), T2 (Wheat), T3 (Corn) T4 (Sugar bagasse) and control (clear water). In‐situ biofloc was developed in 300 L fibre‐reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks and a C/N ratio of 15 was maintained. Water quality variables indicated ammonia immobilization by heterotrophic bacteria, as the dominant mechanism for the removal of toxic‐nitrogenous compounds in the biofloc systems. Results exhibited significantly higher floc volume (53.33 ± 7.88 ml/L), haemoglobin content (6.61 ± 0.03 g/dl) and total leucocyte count (109.66 ± 0.06 thousand cells/mm3) in tapioca biofloc system. Furthermore, the digestive and anti‐oxidative enzymes activities were also significantly higher in tapioca biofloc system. The lactate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase enzyme assays showed a decreased level in tapioca biofloc system as compared with other biofloc systems and control group. Our observations indicate that tapioca biofloc system could improve the water quality, haematological and anti‐stress responses of L. rohita fingerlings in biofloc systems and thus can effectively replace other carbohydrate sources for the biofloc system.

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Immunostimulants are an effective means of enhancing both specific and non-specific defence mechanisms in aquatic organisms and other animals, increasing the immunocompetency and disease resistance (Harikrishnan, Balasundaram, & Heo, 2011.). Immunostimulants can be derivatives of animals, plants, microbes or synthetic drugs

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