Authors : Aysun Kop, Yasar Durmaz and Muge Hekimoglu
Abstract: This study, examined influence of carrot (Daucus carota) and red pepper (Capsicum annuum) as natural pigment material on colouration of cichlid (Cichlasoma severum sp. Heckel, 1840). Mean weight of 120 fish were 1.16±0.22 g and they were divided into 3 groups with duplication each. Three types of experimental feed were prepared; the first group was added carrot, second one red pepper to provide 50 mg of total pigments kg-1 in diets and control feed do not have any pigment material. Fish were fed by 1% of their live weight and trial lasted for 50 days. Early in the trial, total carotenoid quantities were measured in carrot and red pepper, fish and their feeds and the end of it only in fish. Carotenoid amount in the fish samples by fed with red pepper and carrot diets were 5.25±0.90 and 5.60±0.29 mg g-1, respectively. Consequently a significant difference was found between individuals fed by natural pigment material and those by unpigmented feeds (p≤0.05). It was demonstrated that natural pigment substances have an impact on coloration of cichlid and the groups did not exhibit any distinctions in feed conversion and growth rates.
Aysun Kop, Yasar Durmaz and Muge Hekimoglu, 2010. Effect of Natural Pigment Sources on Colouration of Cichlid (Cichlasoma severum sp. Heckel, 1840). Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 9: 566-569.