Effects of prebiotic mannan oligosaccharide on the growth, survival, and anxiety-like behaviors of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

ABSTRACT

A study was designed to investigate the possible positive prebiotic effects of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) on growth and reduction of anxiety behaviors in zebrafish (Danio rerio). The experimental diets were supplemented with 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 g MOS kg⁻¹ and were fed to juvenile fish (0.47 ± 0.017 g) in triplicates for six weeks. Significant differences were found in the final body weight, body weight intake, percent body weight intake, and specific growth rate among treatments. The regression analyses showed that the optimum MOS level was 4–4.1 g MOS kg⁻¹ diet. Fish fed 4 g MOS kg⁻¹ feed showed higher survival than the other treatments. Also, using the novel tank test, fish fed with 4 g MOS kg⁻¹ diet showed lower anxiety by swimming in the upper portion of the tank. The other behavior parameters remained unaffected by the prebiotic. The results indicated the beneficial effect of the prebiotic MOS on growth and partly on welfare of zebrafish juveniles.

KEYWORDS:

• Behavior
• Danio rerio
• growth
• starvation tolerance
• stress response
• welfare

Acknowledgments

The authors thank M. Hedayati Rad for helpful assistance during the experiments and the editor and anonymous reviewers for their constructive and insightful comments.

Funding

This study was supported by grants from University of Tehran. All of the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by grants from University of Tehran. All of the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.