Effects of Different Carbon Sources on Bioactive Compound Production of Biofloc, Immune Response, Antioxidant Level, and Growth Performance of Litopenaeus vannamei in Zero‐water Exchange Culture Tanks

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the development and bioactive compounds of biofloc promoted by adding molasses and wheat bran to zero‐water exchange culture tanks and their effects on physiological parameters and growth performance of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei (initial weight: 6.8 ± 0.4 g). Different combinations of molasses and wheat bran were added as carbon sources: T1 , 100% molasses; T2 , 50% molasses + 50% wheat bran; T3 , 25% molasses + 75% wheat bran. Clear water tanks with water exchange served as the control group (control). After the 30‐d experiment, the development of biofloc in terms of total suspended solids ( TSS ) and biofloc volume ( BFV ) showed significant differences in the three biofloc treatments, especially the highest levels of TSS and BFV observed in T3 . The levels of poly‐beta‐hydroxybutyrate or polysaccharide in the biofloc of T1 and T2 were significantly higher than those in T3 . Meanwhile, compared with the control group, most of the immune and antioxidant parameters and growth performance of shrimp were significantly enhanced in biofloc treatments, especially in T1 or T2 . In conclusion, different carbon sources could effectively affect the development and bioactive compounds of biofloc, which could improve physiological health status and growth performance of shrimp in zero‐water exchange systems.