Effects of probiotics dietary supplementation on growth performance, feed utilization, and physiological responses in Nile tilapia fingerlings

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Published: 2026-02-20
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13057/biotek/c230101
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Aquaculture nutrition, feed utilization, growth performance, Nile tilapia, probiotic
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FOUZI. A MOHAMMED
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology. P.O. Box 204, Khartoum, Sudan
RAMZY A. YOUSIF ♥
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology. P.O. Box 204, Khartoum, Sudan
NUSIBA A. ALNOOR
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology. P.O. Box 204, Khartoum, Sudan
SALMA M. SULIMAN
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology. P.O. Box 204, Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

Abstract. Mohammed FA, Yousif RA, Alnoor NA, Suliman SM. 2026. Effects of probiotics dietary supplementation on growth performance, feed utilization, and physiological responses in Nile tilapia fingerlings. Asian J Trop Biotechnol 23 (1): c230101. https://doi.org/10.13057/biotek/c230101. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different dietary probiotics groups on water quality, growth performance, feed utilization and hematological parameters for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A seven-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate growth, feed utilization and body composition of Nile tilapia fingerlings O. niloticus (1.74±0.02 g) fed five isonitrogenous (30.2% crude protein) and isoenergetic (4382.76 Kcal/kg/gross energy) diets, however, the control diet (D1) had no probiotic supplement. Diets 2-5 were formulated to be D2 (Bacillus subtilis NIOFSD017, 107 CFU/g) D3 (Lactobacillus plantarum NIOFSD018, 107 CFU/g), D4 (mixture of NIOFSD017, 0.5×107 CFU/g and NIOFSD018, 0.5×107 CFU/g) and D5 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae NIOFSD019, 104 CFU/g). The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments and three replicates. Fish were stocked in triplicate groups of 20 fish. Fish fed diet 5 (D5) exhibited the highest (P<0.05) values for live weight gain and specific growth rate (% per day). FCR and SGR were better (P<0.05) in fish-fed diets 1 (D1) and (D2). Fish-fed diet D1 exhibited lower (P<0.05) fat and ash contents in carcass. The protein efficiency ratio, absolute body weight live weight gain and feed conversion ratio content significantly decreased in fish fed diet D1 (no probiotic supplement).

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