Effect of ß-carotene enriched diet on growth, survival and coloration of angel fish, pterophyllum scalare (Schultze, 1823)

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of ß-carotene at different concentrations on growth, survival and coloration in Angel fish. Four homogenous triplicates randomly distributed groups of juvenile angel fish (1.02±0.04 g) were fed with the diet supplementation with 0, 100, 125, 150 mg kg-1 ß-carotene as T₀, T₁, T₂, and T₃ respectively. The fishes were fed @ 3% of their body weight twice a day for 75 days. The growth rate, FCR, SGR, PER, survival rate and coloration of fish were evaluated at the end of experiment. After 75 days of trials, samples of skin, fins and muscle were withdrawn for subsequent analysis of total carotenoid content while skin and scales were taken for evaluation of whiteness, redness and yellowness. The results revealed that 150 mg kg-1 ß-carotene had a significant (p<0.05) effect on body weight gain, SGR, and survival rate. The higher carotenoid content, pro vitamin A activity and coloration were achieved at 150 mg kg-¹ ß-carotene fed group. Thus, the results indicated that the supplementation of diet with 150 mg kg-¹ ß-carotene at later stage of Angel fish significantly enhanced the growth rate, survival and coloration.