Effects of dietary supplementation with mannan-rich oligosaccharides and solid-state fermented Aspergillus niger on the growth performance of juvenile Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer

Abstract

Feed additives are gaining popularity as dietary supplements with the potential to support growth, immune competence, and the general health of aquaculture species. This study aimed to evaluate growth performance and feed utilization in juvenile Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer, fed experimental diets containing enzymes derived from the solid-state fermentation (SSF) of Aspergillus niger and mannan oligosaccharides (MOS), both individually and in combination. Fish were fed six experimental  diets: control (no additives), SSF (0.025% & 0.05%), MOS (0.1% & 0.2%), and combined SSF (0.025%) + MOS (0.05%). The feeding trial was conducted for ten weeks in triplicate for each experimental diet consisting of 51 fish in 120 L tanks. Following the  collection of growth performance metrics, proximate analysis of muscle and feces samples was performed, and all datasets were statistically analyzed with One-way ANOVA. The results showed that the highest specific growth rate (SGR = 1.29%) and lowest feed conversion rate (FCR = 1.0) were obtained by fish fed the diet supplemented with SSF (0.025%) + MOS (0.05%). The synergistic effects of SSF as an exogenous enzyme source and MOS in supporting gut health likely facilitated enhanced nutrient digestibility and absorption, which supported the growth of juvenile Asian seabass.