Dietary Supplement of Natural Carotenoid Source and Commercial Feed on Growth and Colouration in Freshwater Ornamental Fish, Poecilia sphenops

Abstract

Ornamental fishery is a well-known commercial business and hobby around the world and to manage their healthy growth and bright colouration in captive conditions, a well designed aquarium, healthy feed and good water quality is must. Feed, its ingredients and feeding regime is important for the growth, colouration and general health of fish for aesthetic appearances. Thus, the dietary supplements and their management contribute to the sustainability and well being of an aquaculture system and decide how well the income can be generated thereby also reducing major economic losses. In the present investigation effect of three types of diets viz., basic diet or customized formulated diet (D1), commercial diet (D2) and natural pigment source, Lantana camara (10g/1000g)incorporated in formulated diet (D3) fed to ornamental live-bearer fish Red Eyed Orange Molly (Poecilia sphenops) for a period 60 days was observed. The results showed 100% survivability (0% mortality) with significant improvement in health conditions, growth performance and colouration in all the three group of fish. The growth parameters were found to be significantly high (p < 0.05) among all fish groups whereas, morphological indices such as condition factor, hepatosomatic index and viscerosomatic index showed significant difference between groups fed with three feed regimes (D1, D2 and D3) for 60 days (p < 0.05). The highest pigmentation range was obtained in fishes fed with D3 followed by D2 and D1 respectively. In conclusion, L. camara incorporated diet (D3) fed test fish, P. sphenops showed significantly positive improvement in their growth performance and colouration compared to commercial diet (D2).