Color enhancement and the growth performance of Buenos Aires (BA) tetra (Hemmigrammus caudovittatus) fed with marigold petal meal (Tagetes erecta) and a commercial feed

Abstract

n,e pre$ent in,cstigotion was aimed at dctcm1ining the effects of dietary supplemenl.ltion of different pigment sources on colour development. gm\\ th. focd conversion and sur.i"al of Buenos Aires {B A) tctm ( lf,m1migmm11111s cm11lovitre11us), Th< fish (0.69-J: 0.02g. nð€€¬72) fed on diets e-0ntaining 3% marigold petal meal (MD) and C<lmmercial colour recd '' Super Red" (SR) were compared with the fish fed on a control diet with,,ut 311) pigments (CD) for 72 days. Daily food consumption, length and weight of fish al I\\O wteks intenals and total carotenoid content of skin (meluding tins) of fish at the end of 1hc expcrinoent were measured. The carotenoid content of skin was significantly different (p< 0.05.\ among the fish fed on MO, SR, and CD die1s. The fish fed 011 Mf) diets showed the highc.,t total carotenoid contcll\ (6.15 ± I.SO mg/g_l in their sð€†“in compared 10 fish fed on olher t"o diets. Fish fed on SR feed had 4,86± 2.12 mglg of total carotcnnid cc,ntent m their tissues "hile the lowe.t carotenoid com,·nt wns obscned in tht> fish fed on CO die1 (2.04± 0.Sti nig/g). I he dictar;· carotcnoid sources did not significantly affect U1c grt>"th perfonnancc. 1',:rcc11t:1ge Srx:cific GroMh Rate ranged from 0.92J 0.02 10 1.23 ± 0.20 and teed conversion ranged from 0.90± 0.42 to 1.97± 0.14 of B A tetra fed wð€ˆ¥th different diets. <:unoval nttc was equal (100%) for all tl1e treallnents. TI11> present study shows th8t the marigold petal meal can be used as o natural pigment source to prepare a low cost diet wnhout affecting growth, feed conversion and survival of l:l A tetra,