The effects of probiotic AQUALASE on growth, survival and hematological parameters of Benni, Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi

Yeasts have been used as food additive containing protein and vitamins group B for fish nutrition. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of probiotic, AQUALASE on growth, immunity and hematological parameters of Benii, Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi. Fish were assigned to 12 experimental tanks (with stocking rate of 30 fish per tank) as 3 experimental treatments with three replicates. The treatments were: T1: 0.05% probiotic, T2: 0.1 % probiotic, T3: 0.15% probiotic. Also, one group fed with probiotic -free diet was considered as control. After 60 feeding with experimental diets, it was recognized that probiotic improves the growth indices including: weight, specific growth rate, daily growth rate, feed and protein efficiency and also decreases feed conversion ratio. In this regard, the best results obtained in fish fed with 0.15 probiotic (T3). Survival rate values showed no significant differences between experimental groups. The values of hemeoglubin, MCH and MCHC increased only in T3. In conclusion, with regard to positive effects of AQUALASE on growth and hematology of Benii, this probiotic can be as a growth enhancer for this species.