ABSTRACT:
Production of high quality giant gourami is considered essential to prevent the disease outbreak, survival and growth at aquarium. This paper deals with the production of high quality giant gourami, Osphronemus goramy using probiotics. Materials and Methods: This experiment was designed in such way that stocking the Giant gourami in fourgroups, the first one as control without probiotics and the second as experimental with Bacillus sp, third with Lactobacillus spand the fourth as consortium; a mixture of Bacillus sp and Lactobacillus sp. Results and Discussion: The results were compared in terms of quality of Giant gourami. The fish treated with consortium exhibited highest growth rate (Body Weight-4.13+8.24 gm) and survival of 95% at Total Length–4.23+8.47 cm stage. The upper most growth rate was noted in group IV treated daily with consortium. This treatment group improved in mean weight from 4.13 to 8.27 with an average growth rate of 0.069% per day. This was significantly better than the control group I which grew from 4.15 to 5.83 g with an average of 0.028 % per day. In the experimental tanks the water treated with probiotics played a key role in maintaining the water quality parameters and keeping the ammonia level less than 1.0 ppm. Conclusion: It was established that the use of probiotics plays a very important role in maintaining the water quality, survival and growth rate in ornamental fish forming systems.