Enhancing rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus population growth with commercial probiotics

The effect of a commercial probiotic (NanoCrusta, Altacrusta, Mexico City, Mexico) on the growth performance of Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas, 1766, was evaluated. In a first approach, probiotics were supplied in four densities (2.0 × 103, 1.1 × 105, 2.1 × 105 and 2.1 × 106 cells/ml), alone and in combination with Chlorella vulgaris (1 × 106 cells/ml). The test rotifer did not grow on the probiotic alone. However, when probiotics + C. vulgaris were added, the maximum densities (Dmax; ind/ml) and population growth rates (r) observed were higher. In the second experiment, probiotics were supplied at five higher densities (2.1 × 106, 4.2 × 106, 8.5 × 106, 1.7 × 107 and 3.4 × 107 cells/ml) with C. vulgaris and a control treatment with only C. vulgaris (probiotic‐free). Treatments supplied with probiotics between 2.1 × 106 and 1.7 × 107 cells/ml showed significantly higher Dmax and r than the control treatment. The results showed a positive effect of probiotic bacteria when supplied with C. vulgaris. The best outcome showed a Dmax 2.16 times and an r 1.63 times higher than the density of the control treatment. Growth rates were higher in the treatments with probiotics compared to the control. We conclude that application of NanoCrusta is feasible to improve B. calyciflorus production, but the effects need to be tested in larger scales.