Growth performance, immunity and intestinal microbiota of swamp eel ( Monopterus albus ) fed a diet supplemented with house fly larvae ( Musca domestica )

Housefly larvae are widely used in livestock breeding industry as a functional feed additive with immunostimulant properties, but their effects as dietary additive are poorly understood in aquatic animals. We conducted an eight‐week rearing experiment to determine the effects of housefly larvae (complete) on growth performance, immunity and intestinal microbiota in swamp eel ( Monopterus albus ). Dietary treatments were as follows: BD (control group, fed a basal diet), FL7 (fly larvae supplemented once weekly, i.e., 6‐day basal diet, 1‐day larvae) and FL3 (larvae supplemented every third day, i.e., 2‐day basal diet, 1‐day larvae). The final body weight (FBW) and weight gain (WG) of the FL3 group significantly ( p  < .05) increased. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration significantly decreased in FL3 and FL7 groups. The expression of immune‐related genes was also influenced by the fly larvae. Aeromonas hydrophila challenge experiment produced higher survival rates in the FL3 (75%) and FL7 (37.5%) groups. Fly larvae also affected the composition of gut microbiota: the abundance of Bacteroides increased, and Pseudomonas decreased, in the treatment groups. Dietary supplementation of housefly larvae has positive effects on the growth and immunity of swamp eel, and we suggest supplementing housefly larvae every third day.