Probiotics Enhance the Zootechnical, Biochemical, and Water Quality Aspects of Culturing the Whiteleg Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei in the Biofloc System

This study investigated the impacts of dietary supplementation with two probiotics, PondToss® and LactéolFort®, on the growth performance and biochemical indices of the whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in clear water (CW) and biofloc technology (BFT) systems. Six different treatments were applied: T1 (CW without probiotics, control), T2 (BFT without probiotics), T3 (BFT with PondToss® at 0.5g g⁻¹), T4 (BFT with PondToss® at 1g kg⁻¹), T5 (BFT with LactéolFort® at 0.5gkg⁻¹), and T6 (BFT with LactéolFort® at 1g kg⁻¹). Over 90 days, shrimps with initial average weights of 3.9 to 4.10g were fed the experimental diets to satiety twice daily. The study found that neither rearing system nor probiotic treatment affected water temperature or dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. However, the treatments significantly influenced water pH, dissolved nitrogen forms (ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate), total suspended solids (TSS), total alkalinity (as CaCO₃), and floc volume (VF). Biofloc and probiotic-enriched diets stimulated growth in terms of weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate. In biofloc conditions, shrimps fed with probiotics showed an increased feed intake and a better feed and protein utilization. Biochemical indices such as albumin, total protein, and globulin levels varied significantly among the groups, with the control group (T1) recording the lowest survival rate (66.89%), while the BFT and probiotic-enriched groups had higher survival rates, ranging from 87.35 (T6) to 90.21% (T2). The findings suggest that probiotic-supplemented diets in BFT systems improve water quality, boost shrimp growth, enhance nutrient utilization, and positively affect biochemical characteristics. Thus, combining probiotics with biofloc technology appears to be a promising strategy for enhancing shrimp performance.