Effects of dietary protein, lipid and astaxanthin levels on growth and carotenoid accumulation in anemone fish, Amphiprion ocellaris.

Abstract

ABSTRACT           Fish fed diets containing astaxanthin have been shown to accumulate carotenoid while those receiving a diet containing optimum protein level display increased growth. The purpose of the present study was to formulate a diet that ensured good growth and the accumulation of carotenoid in cultured stocks of the anemone fish, Amphiprion ocellaris. To test this, two trials were conducted. The first explored different inclusion rates of protein (40, 50 and 60%) on growth, whereas the second 3-month feed trial assessed different levels of lipid, i.e.,13, 16, and 20%, and astaxanthin, i.e., 25, 30, and 35 mg/kg and the subsequent deposition of carotenoid in the fish. The first trial indicated that a diet containing 50% protein gave better specific growth rates than the other diets (P < 0.05) and higher standard length increments (P < 0.05). From the second trial, diets containing 16% lipid and 30 mg/kg astaxanthin produced fish with the best standard length (P < 0.05). The accumulation of beta-carotene was highest in those fed 16% lipid and 35 mg/kg astaxanthin (P < 0.05); the cantaxanthin was highest in those fed 13% lipid and 35 mg/kg astaxanthin (P < 0.05). Lutein and zeaxanthin, however, were highest in those fed 20% lipid and 35 mg/kg astaxanthin (P < 0.05). The trial demonstrated that the diets with the higher protein content were better for growth while those containing either 16% or 20% lipid with 35 mg/kg astaxanthin were better able to accumulate carotenoid, beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin.