224 Original Paper Czech J. Anim. Sci., 60, 2015 (5): 224–232 doi: 10.17221/8172-CJAS Effect of synbiotic dietary supplementation on survival, growth performance, and digestive enzyme activities of common carp ( Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings P. Ghasempour Dehaghani 1 , M. Javaheri Baboli 2 , A. Taghavi Moghadam 3 , S. Ziaei-Nejad 4 , M. Pourfarhadi 5 1 Department of Fisheries Science, College of Agriculture, Khuzestan Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran 2 Department of Fisheries Science, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran 3 Research Lab of Biological Products, Razi Research Vaccine and Serum Institute, Ahvaz, Iran 4 Department of Fisheries, Natural Resources Faculty, Khatamalanbia Industrial University of Behbahan, Behbahan, Iran 5 Department of Fisheries Science, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran ABSTRACT: Efects of diferent levels of Biomin ® IMBO synbiotic, including Enterococcus faecium (as probio- tic), and fructooligosaccharides (as prebiotic) on survival, growth performance, and digestive enzyme activities of common carp fngerlings (Cyprinus carpio) were evaluated. Te experiment was carried out in four treat- ments (each with 3 replicates), including T1 = control with non-synbiotic diet, T2 = 0.5 g/kg synbiotic diet, T3 = 1 g/kg synbiotic diet, and T4 = 1.5 g/kg synbiotic diet. In total 300 fsh with an average weight of 10 ± 1 g were distributed in 12 tanks (25 animals per 300 l) and were fed experimental diets over a period of 60 days. Te results showed that synbiotic could signifcantly enhance growth parameters (weight gain, length gain, specifc growth rate, percentage weight gain) (P < 0.05), but did not exhibit any efect on survival rate (P > 0.05) compared with the control. An assay of the digestive enzyme activities demonstrated that the trypsin and chymotrypsin activities of synbiotic groups were considerably increased than those in the control (P < 0.05), but there was no signifcant diference in the levels of α-amylase, lipase, or alkaline phosphatase (P > 0.05). Tis study indicated that diferent levels of synbiotic have the capability to enhance probiotic substitution, to improve digestive enzyme activity which leads to digestive system efciency, and fnally to increase growth. It seems that the studied synbiotic could serve as a good diet supplement for common carp cultures. Keywords: additive; prebiotic; probiotic; growth; survival; digestive enzyme INTRODUCTION The common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) is one of the most important farmed species in the world’s aquaculture especially in Asia where the production was 3 444 203 t in 2010 (FAO 2012). Improving the health conditions and growth performance in commonly farmed fish such as common carp is a topic of extreme interest. Recently, research efforts have been concentrated on optimizing production with eco-friendly alternatives to the therapeutic use of antibiotics. The use of probiotics in the culture of aquatic organisms is increasing with the demand for good management (Gatesoupe 1999). A probiotic is generally defined as a live microbial food supplement which improves the balance of the host animal’s intestinal flora (Fuller 1989). The majority of probiotic studies in fsh