Effects of Artemia nauplii enrichment with a bacterial species (Weissiella koreensis) on growth performance and survival rate of stellate sturgeon larvae (Acipenser stellatus)

Abstract

Artemia franciscana nauplii was enriched with a bacterial species Weissiella koreensis (lactic acid gram-positive) isolated from the alimentary tract of Stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus), at 3 levels. Treatments included T₁: 6.9×10⁴ colony-forming units (CFU) mL^-1, T₂: 6.9×10⁵ CFU mL^-1, T₃: 6.9×10⁶ CFU mL^-1 and their effects were compared with the control diet (no probiotic were added). Each diet was fed to triplicate tanks. In total 3600 larvae were distributed in 12 fiberglass tanks (300 larvae per each tank contain 100 L of water). The larvae were fed, 60% of the body weight per day, with enriched Artemia nauplii, immediately after absorption of yolk sac, 6 times a day for 14 days. The results showed that, enrichment of Artemia nauplii with Weissiella koreensis in the T₁, T₂ and T₃ could significantly enhance feed conversion ratio (FCR), in comparison with control (P<0.05). Survival in T₃ and T₁ was significantly more than control (P<0.05). Also biomass increase, in T₃ was significantly more than control (P<0.05). It can be stated that, the T₃, in term of effect on growth performance was in a more favorable condition than others treatments and control.