Growth,survival and enzyme activity of lions‐paw scallop (Nodipecten subnodosus) spat treated with probiotics at the hatchery

Different types and concentrations of probiotics were evaluated for their effects on growth, survival and enzyme activity of hatchery‐reared Nodipecten subnodosus spat. The treatments included (1) a mix of the microalgae Isochrysis galbana and Pavlova salina as the control group; (2) Diet 1 + a mix of Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; (3) Diet 1 + the commercial probiotic Epicin; and (4) Diet 1 + the commercial probiotic Bactosafe. Both commercial probiotics were tested at 3, 6 and 10 mg L⁻¹. Scallops receiving Bactosafe and Epicin at 3 and 6 mg L⁻¹ grew ~30% faster and larger than in the control group. Regardless of the treatment, survival at the end was 98.7%. There was no relation between the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase; however, significantly lower catalase levels occurred at increasing doses of Epicin; significant higher catalase levels occurred in the control group and mix of bacilli. Compared with the control group, lysozyme levels were significantly higher with the Epicin and Bactosafe treatments (3 and 6 mg L⁻¹). More research needs to be conducted with probiotics to determine their real effects on the activity of antioxidant enzymes. We expect that treated scallops will increase their performance at the field.