EFFECTIVENESS OF PROBIOTIC PROBIO 7 ON GROWTH IN MILKFISH (Chanos chanos)

Abstract

Chanos chanos or milkfish is an important and highly profitable aquaculture product in Indonesia. However, efforts to increase milkfish growth remain challenging, necessitating strategies to improve feed efficiency. This study was conducted to assess the effect of Probio 7 on the growth of milkfish fed commercial feed at various doses and to determine the most effective dose. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used in this study. This design consisted of four treatments and three replications: A (0 ml), B (10 ml), C (15 ml), and D (20 ml). The results showed that the administration of the probiotic Probio 7 had a statistically significant effect (P < 0.05) on increasing absolute weight growth, specific growth rate (SGR), and feed utilization efficiency (EP), survival rate (SR), and water quality based on all observed parameters. Treatment C (15 ml) was the most effective, with an absolute weight gain of 11.84 g, an SGR of 1.36 g%/day, an EP of 71.92%, and an FCR of 1.39. In all treatments, the survival rate reached 100%, indicating that probiotic administration had no impact on fish survival. Water quality conditions throughout the study remained within the optimum range for fish growth, as indicated by a temperature of 28.3–30.1 °C, salinity of 32–35 ppt, and pH of 7.6–8. The results showed that Probio 7 supplementation at a dose of 15 ml was able to improve nutrient utilization from feed and milkfish growth.