After more than 20 years of research on probiotics for aquaculture, the treatment has become a reality
in farms and hatcheries, mainly in those devoted to shrimp production. New insights into gut
microbiota have recently offered the opportunity to reconsider the application to fish culture, still
lagging behind shrimp industry in the use of probiotics.this regard. Additionally, the concept of
prebiotics is emerging as another effective way of disease control in aquaculture. Prebiotics are food
ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth of and/or activating the
metabolism of one or a limited number of health-promoting bacteria in the intestinal tract. While dietary
applications of prebiotics and probiotics may be combined, one or the other may also be
independently administered. This commentary highlights the recent developments in our
understanding of probiotics and prebiotics and provides pointers to the future.