Feed Supplementation with a Commercially Available Probiotic Solution Does Not Alter the Composition of the Microbiome in the Biofilters of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

Recirculating aquaculture relies on the treatment of ammonia compounds from the water by a bacterial flora growing inside biofilters. Another increasingly common practice in aquaculture is the supplementation of feed with live probiotic bacteria to boost the immune system of the farmed animals and hinder the implantation of pathogenic bacteria. In the present study, we investigated the bacterial flora within the biofilters of recirculating farming units in which African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were being farmed. Our results suggested that these two farming systems could be compatible as feeding of the probiotic feed had no detectable effect on the composition of the microbiome within the biofilters and none of the bacteria from the feed could be detected in the biofilters. These findings suggest that supplementation of the fish feed with probiotic supplements did not interfere with the microbiome residing inside the biofilter and that it is a safe practice in recirculating aquaculture systems.