Modulation of growth performances, survival, digestive enzyme activities and intestinal microbiota in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) larvae using short chain fructooligosaccharide

This study investigates the effects of inclusion of low levels of dietary short chain fructooligosacchairde (sc-FOS) on physiological response and intestinal microbiota of carp (Cyprinus carpio) larvae. After acclimation, fish (550 +/- 20 mg) were allocated into nine tanks (40 fish per tank) and triplicate groups were fed a control diet (0%) or diets containing 0.5% and 1% sc-FOS for 7 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the growth performance parameters (final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR) and condition factor (CF), survival rate as well as digestive enzyme activities (amylase, lipase and protease), total viable counts of heterotrophic aerobic bacteria (TVC) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) level in intestinal microbiota were measured. Our results revealed no significant (P > 0.05) effects of sc-FOS on growth performance and TVC when compared with the control group. However, administration of low levels of dietary sc-FOS significantly increased digestive enzyme activities (lipase and amylase) and LAB levels (P < 0.05). Also, survival rate was significantly elevated in sc-FOS fed carp. These results revealed that administration of low levels of sc-FOS can be considered as a beneficial dietary supplement for larval stage of common carp.