Effects of spirulina powder in colouration and growth enhancement of an indigenous ornamental fish Trichogaster lalius.

Abstract

Body colouration of fin fishes is one of the most important factors that increase their ornamental value in the market. In the present study juveniles of Trichogaster lalius were exposed to different concentration of spirulina powder incorporated diets to observe the impact in pigmentation of the respective fish in the captive condition. Three different concentration feed were prepared by incorporating spirulina powder at the rate of 2 g/kg (A-2), 4 g/kg (A-4) and 6 g/kg (A-6) feed and one kept as control. Eight set of glass aquarium of 50 l capacity (30 × 30 × 30 cm) were used for 4 set of experiment with their respective replicates. The impact of spirulina treated feed on pigmentation of fishes was analyzed for a period of 60 days. After the 60 days of experiment growth rate was found increasing significantly (p<0.05) when they were fed with different dose of spirulina powder incorporated diet and best result were obtained at 2 g/kg treated feed in aspects of growth rate and enhanced colouration. Findings of the result concluded that spirulina powder incorporated feed has very good potential to enhance the pigmentation of fishes.