Effect of Various Sources of Carotenoids on Survival and Growth of Goldfish (Carassius auratus) Larvae and Juveniles

Two separate trials were performed to evaluate the effects of adding various sources of carotenoids on survival and growth of goldfish (Carassius auratus) larvae and juveniles. In the first trial (Trial A), larvae (initial body weight: 3.4?0.7 mg) were fed four microparticulate diets (MP) from first feeding to day 28. Diets were formulated to contain a constant level of pigments (45mg kgG ) from different sources of carotenoids 1(Chlorella vulgaris, Spirulina platensis and synthetic pigment astaxantin). All treatments were tested in triplicate as well as a fasted control group. In the second growth trial (Trial B), a fifth diet, containing Haematococus pluvialis biomass (45 mg kgG ; diet Hp), was also tested. Diets were fed to homogenous groups 1 of 45 juvenile C. auratus (1.7?0.1g), in triplicate. Water temperature was maintained at 25?1?C during the 12 weeks long trial. High survival rates were recorded in both studies. Furthermore, there were no significant differences among treatments, for either survival or growth. Our results demonstrate that survival and growth of goldfish larvae and juvenile was not affected by the inclusion of 45 mg carotenoids kgG of diet.