The Intestinal Microbial Community of the Farmed Mandarin Fish Siniperca chuatsi in Recirculating Ponds Aquaculture System (RAS) Compared to a Pond System

The mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi is a commercially important cultured freshwater fish in China. However, little information is available regarding the intestinal microbiota of S. chuatsi. Intestinal samples of the pond- and recirculating ponds aquaculture system (RAS)-farmed Siniperca chuatsi were collected, and characterized by16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Fusobacteria and Firmicutes were the predominant bacterial phyla found in the RAS- and pond-farmed perch. The principal bacterial genera recorded were Cetobacterium and Mycoplasma in the farmed mandarin fish. Compared to pond-farmed perch, the RAS-farmed perch had a higher abundance of Fusobacteria. The number and composition of gut microbes might play crucial roles in farmed mandarin fish nutrient metabolism.