Influence Of Feed Additives On Pigmentation Of Aquarium Fish

Feed additives such as astaxanthin, Vitamin E, oil, f3 -carotene and hormone have more or less influence on the total carotenoids content of aquarium fish surface. Xiphophorus he//en, Poeci/ia reueu/ata, l3arbur conchonius were analysed by spectrophotometric method. The results showed: 1 .Xiphophorus hefleri and Poeci/ia reiiculata were fed for 4 weeks, when the concentration of astaxanthin in the feed was 1 50mg/kg, the total carotenoids in the surface of Xzphophorus helleni and Poeciha reticulata were highest (p<0.05);more or less than this concentration have little effect(p>0.05). 2.The influence of different concentration of astaxanthin and feeding time on total carotenoids in the surface of Barbur conchonius was analysed. The total carotenoids in the scales were not different (p>O.OS) before 8 weeks; in the 8th week, total carotenoids in the scales fed 400mg/kg astaxanthin was highest (p<0.O5). The total carotenoids in the fins were not different (p>O.OS) before 6 weeks; in the 6th and 8th week, total carotenoids in the fins fed 400mg/kg astaxanthin were higher than other groups (p<0.05). 3 Four factors(astaxanthin, Vitamin E, oil and 13 -carotene) each with 3 levels were designed by L0(34) orthogonal table. Xiphophorus helleri were fed for 4 weeks. P -carotene is the most important factor that influence the total carotenoids in the surface; Vitamin E and oil are less important, the influence of astaxanthin is the least. In this experiment, the optimum recipe is: P -carotene, 100mg/kg; oil, less than 10%; Vitamin E, 800mg/kg; astaxanthin, any choice. 4.When Barbur conchonius were stopped feeding hormone, the total carotenoids in the scales and fins dropped significantly (p