Influence of natural carotenoid (Hibiscus tiliaceus) on colouration and growth rate of golden gourami

Abstract

The influence of natural carotenoid on colouration and growth rate of Golden Gourami was investigated in this study. Golden gouramis were cultured for 45 days in 4 treatment with 3 replicates each treatment. The commercial feeds were combined with 3 differents H. tiliaceus flower concentrations which were 0.45g/0.9g/1.35g per 1 OOg. The purpose of the project is to study the effect of H. tiliaceus on Golden gourami growth rate and colour enhancement. The fishes were fed once per day and the analysis of carotenoid content was conducted at O day, 30 days and 45 days while growth rate experiment was conducted for a month in different experiment. The carotenoid content in the body of fishes showed apparent increment after 45 days for treatment 2, 3 and 4, with 8.85mg/kg, 11.00 mg/kg and 8.43 mg/kg respectively except for control that slightly decrease (5.54 mg/kg) when compared to initial day (6.91 mg/kg). The carotenoid content in the fin of the fishes also indicated the same pattern which treatment 3 was the highest 62.25mg/kg followed by treatment 2 (54.53 mg/kg) and treatment 4 (37.99 mg/kg). Additionally the carotenoid in the fin part was higher compared to the body part of the fishes. There was no significant effect of H. tiliaceus on fish's growth rate (p> 0.05). Therefore, the H.tiliaceus flower may have 1:otential as pigment colour enhancer for ornamental fishes particularly with yellow-orange ornamental fishes.