The fry-to-fingerling nursery stage decides whole-crop survival. Fry are sensitive and die easily from a foul nursery, parasites and early bacillary necrosis. Than Vuong: clean nursery + strong digestion + immunity + early disease control.
A successful pangasius nursery needs: (1) a clean tank/pond — SOILMAX New, NIAZYME probiotics, YUCCA C for toxic gas, gentle water exchange; (2) digestion and immunity support with PRO F, BIOMAX, ACTISEL, AQUAMOS; (3) early disease control: Edwardsiella ictaluri necrosis often appears at the fingerling stage → FLOR-MAX; parasites (Trichodina, flukes) → AQUA PRAZI. Fry are very sensitive — dose carefully and avoid shock.
Pangasius fry are nursed at high density, feed continuously and are very sensitive. Good water and nutrition here lift survival and fingerling quality.
Excess fine feed spikes NH3 in small nursery tanks/ponds. Probiotics + gentle exchange keep water clean and reduce fry loss.
Fry guts are immature and easily upset. Digestive enzymes and yeast aid absorption, with immune support to keep fry strong and reduce loss.
Bacillary necrosis (Edwardsiella ictaluri) and parasites (Trichodina, flukes) often hit fingerlings. Early detection and gentle dosing save the batch.
Clean tank/pond, seed SOILMAX New + NIAZYME before stocking fry.
Gentle exchange, apply YUCCA C when gas rises, avoid leftover fine feed.
Feed PRO F / BIOMAX / ACTISEL + AQUAMOS, CANFORTA for vitamins.
Watch the liver + scope parasites; AQUA PRAZI for flukes/Trichodina.
FLOR-MAX dosed carefully by size, with HERB GUARD; gentle WORK 80 / AQUA DINE.
SOILMAX NewConcentrated bottom probiotics, decompose organics, cut toxic gas
NIAZYMEClean water & bottom, remove toxic gas, build water color
MAX 4000Broad-salinity probiotics, strong at low-oxygen bottom, cut NH3/NO2/H2S
AQUA PRO4000XBroad-salinity probiotics treat bottom/water, control algae — fresh & marine
YUCCA CFast NH3 absorption, anti-shock, stabilize environment
PREMIX EDTAChelate heavy metals, reduce acid-sulfate (iron, aluminum, manganese)
PRO FProbiotic for gut support, better digestion in fingerlings
BIOMAXYeast boosts immunity, balances gut microbiome
ACTISELLive yeast balances gut microbes, stimulates feeding
AQUAMOSYeast nutrients stimulate immunity, healthy gut, faster growth
BETAGLUCAN GROBeta-glucan boosts health, stimulates natural immunity
CLEVERSuppress opportunistic gut bacteria (Vibrio)Use gentle doses for fingerlings, under guidance.
Click to read the full translation. Open-access papers fully translated; copyrighted papers summarized from abstract.
Haque et al., 2021, Aquaculture Reports
Finding: In-feed Bacillus probiotic during nursing raised phase-2 survival from 28.73% to 58.58% (~104%) and improved length, haematology and intestinal villi.
Different angle: Direct evidence for Mekong nursery farmers: early probiotic feeding is a low-cost biological alternative to prophylactic antibiotics.
High nursery mortality is a major bottleneck in pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) farming. This Bangladesh farm trial tested an in-feed probiotic across three phases as an antibiotic alternative.
Early Bacillus probiotic sharply cut fry mortality with lasting benefits through grow-out — a cost-effective antibiotic alternative.
Wiratama et al., 2025, Antioxidants (MDPI)
Finding: Probiotic Bacillus subtilis plus its postbiotic for 30 days raised post-challenge survival against Edwardsiella from 62.5% to 87.5%, with higher growth (SGR 3.29 vs 0.74 %/day) and mucosal lysozyme.
Different angle: Supports the postbiotic (ISAPP) angle: probiotic + metabolites boost immunity and liver-gut antioxidants while raising resistance to Edwardsiella behind bacillary necrosis.
Edwardsiellosis causes heavy losses in pangasius. This 2025 study tested probiotic Bacillus subtilis AAHM-BS2360 and its cell-free postbiotic.
The probiotic–postbiotic combination gave the highest survival against Edwardsiella while improving growth and antioxidant status.
Pham et al., 2021, Journal of Fish Diseases
Finding: Resistance to bacillary necrosis (Edwardsiella ictaluri) shows low-to-moderate heritability (up to 0.135–0.220 at 50% mortality), indicating selective breeding is feasible.
Different angle: BNP is the top killer of pangasius fingerlings; resistance is partly genetic but modest, so biological tools remain essential while breeding matures.
Translated from the abstract — full paper restricted by the publisher on the original page.
Bacillary necrosis (BNP) from Edwardsiella ictaluri is the leading loss in Mekong striped catfish. Data from four cohabitation challenges were analysed with three genetic models at 50% mortality and endpoint. Heritability was very low (≤ 0.012) under the survival model but reached 0.135–0.220 at 50% mortality under linear/threshold models — exploitable but modest. Breeding for resistance is feasible yet slow, so biological management remains essential.
Thy et al., 2017, Fish & Shellfish Immunology
Finding: Spore-forming Bacillus probiotics fed for 90 days cut ammonia-stress mortality to 20–27% versus 75% in controls, while raising growth and innate immunity.
Different angle: Ammonia toxicity is a top loss in dense nurseries; gut probiotics speed growth and markedly improve ammonia tolerance.
Translated from the abstract — full paper restricted by the publisher on the original page.
In high-density pangasius nurseries, ammonia (NH3) is a major lethal stressor. Spore-forming Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 54A + B. pumilus 47B (gut-isolated) were fed at 1–5×10⁸ CFU/g for 90 days. At the top dose, weight gain reached 476.6 g vs 390 g control; innate immune indices rose. Under ammonia stress, probiotic mortality was only 20–27% vs 75% in controls. Gut probiotics boost growth and ammonia tolerance in dense systems.
Keep nursery water clean (SOILMAX New, NIAZYME, YUCCA C, gentle exchange), support fry digestion and immunity (PRO F, BIOMAX, ACTISEL, AQUAMOS) and detect disease early (scope parasites, watch the liver). Feed to appetite, avoid leftover fine feed.
Usually fast toxic-gas rise in the nursery, parasites (Trichodina, flukes) or early necrosis. Check water, scope parasites and watch the liver to treat the right cause.
Treat with FLOR-MAX at a careful, size-based dose (fingerlings are drug-sensitive), with HERB GUARD for liver recovery and reduced feeding. Observe withdrawal.
Apply SOILMAX New + NIAZYME regularly; use YUCCA C to absorb NH3 when high; exchange water gently and avoid leftover fine feed.
Than Vuong technical team — free protocol consultation for your pond/cage, 24h response.
Aquaculture Q&A
CALPHOS GRO
MIXBOOM
MAX LIVER (Dung dịch)
OXYTETRA
TETRA-C
WORK 80
POWER GLUTA
AQUA DINE New