EFFECTS OF NATURAL CAROTENOIDS ON THE BODY COLORATION OF SWORD TAIL FISH (Xiphophorus hellerii)

Abstract

The effect of natural carotenoids obtained from China Rose Flower (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), Carrot (Daucus carota), and Marigold Flower (Tagetes erecta) meal on colour, growth and development of Xiphophorus hellerii were investigated for a period of 120 days. The experiment was conducted in aquarium like plastic tank with recirculation facilities in the Wet Laboratory of the Faculty of Fisheries, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. Natural carotenoids leaf meal was substituted for fish meal at 15% control (T0), 15 % China rose(T1), 15% Marigold (T2) and 15% Carrot(T3) in the four different diets. Swordtail fish were randomly distributed into glass like plastic tank aquarium at eight (8) fish per aquarium in triplicate treatments and were fed twice daily for 17 weeks. The average initial carotenoids of fishes in four treatments were 0.083±0.0621mg/10kg, 0.085±0.0457 mg/10kg, 0.085±0.0214 mg/10kg and 0.084±0.0105 mg/10kg in T0, T1, T2 and T3 respectively. At the end of the 120 days experimental period average final carotenoids of the fishes of four treatments were 0.174±0.085 mg/10kg, 0.205±0.095 mg/10kg, 0.352±0.205 mg/10kg and 0.234±0.112 mg/10kg in treatments T0, T1, T2 and T3 respectively. In case of carotenoids gain higher result was found in T2 (marigold) (0.352±0.205 mg/10kg) followed by T3, T1 and T0 and the lower carotenoid gain result found in T0 (control). The average initial weight in four treatments were 3.413±0.0742 gm, 3.213±0.0875 gm, 3.31±0.0324 gm, 2.313 gm±0.0291 in T0, T1, T2 and T3 respectively. At the end of the 120 days experimental period, average final weight of the fishes of four treatments were 4.455±0.821 gm, 3.504±0.219 gm, 3.764±0.727 gm and 2.776±0.418 gm in treatments T0, T1, T2 and T3 respectively. In case of weight gain higher result was found in T0 (4.455±0.821 gm) followed by T3, T2 and T1. In case of length gain higher result was found in T0 (3.594±0.250 cm) followed by T3, T2 and T1. Experimental fish showed good performance in T2 treatment in which survival rate was about 100% and the lowest performance was showed in T1 treatment. The result concluded that natural carotenoids (marigold flower) have positive impacts on the body coloration of sword tail fish.