Effect Of Xanthophyll And Canthaxanthin In Diet On Body Color Of Yellow Catfish (Pelteobagrus Vachelli Richardson)

We studied the effect of natural xanthophyll and artificial canthaxanthin in diet on the body color of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus vachelli Richardson) in a 60-day experiment, during which 11 fish groups (30 individuals each group)were fed xanthophyll at 0,25,50,100,200mg/kg, xanthophyll at 25, 50, 100mg, and canthaxanthin at 25,50mg/kg in base diet. The initial body weight of fish in test groups was (10.0±0.3)g in average. The results indicate that the final body weight of fish reached (22.3 ± 1.8)g in average and no significant difference among test groups (P>0.05). The body color of fish in test groups 3,8,9 (xanthophyll 50mg/kg; xanthophyll 50mg/kg, and canthaxanthin 25,50mg/kg in base diet) are similar to the wild ones, showing no significant difference in the content of xanthophyll in skin among them (P>0.05). Therefore, adding natural xanthophyll in diet is much better in acquiring natural color by the fish than artificial canthaxanthin; and xanthophyll shall be a suitable pigment in feed for yellow catfish culture at optimal rate of 50mg/kg.