Effects of Spirulina platensis as a feed additive on growth and coloration of blue dolphin cichlids ( Cyrtocara moorii Boulunger, 1902)

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of replacing fish meal with dietary Spirulina as a feed supplement on the growth performance and coloration of blue dolphin cichlids (Cyrtocara moorii). Five isonitrogenous (47% crude protein) and isocaloric (17.36 kJ/g digestible energy) diets were for formulated to replace FM with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% Spirulina (designated as Control, SP5, SP10, SP15 and SP20 respectively) and fed to the fish (initial body weight, 3.15 ± 0.01 g). Fish were randomly distributed into fifteen 120 L aquariums (26.5 ± 1.00°C), 15 fish per aquarium. The diets were tested in triplicate for 12 weeks. Experimental groups were fed twice daily (09:00 and 17:00) by hand to satiation. At the end of the feeding trial, significantly (p < 0.05) higher weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed in fish fed the SP10 diet when compared to the SP20 diet. There was no significant difference in these parameters between the other groups. The skin coloration of blue dolphin cichlid fed a diet containing Spirulina meal was enhanced. The best coloration was observed in the SP15 group. These impressions were objectively validated by chemical determinations of carotenoids extracted from fish skins and passed statistical tests of significance. The study findings show that Spirulina meal does not diminish growth rates except at very high levels.

Effect of Spirulina Meal Supplementation on Growth Performance and Feed Utilization in Fish and Shrimp: A Meta-Analysis

“…Twenty-eight species were encompassed in the study. Six shrimp species were studied, including Fenneropenaeus chinensis [ 31 ], Litopenaeus vannamei ([ 32 – 34 ], and [ 35 ]), Macrobrachium rosenbergii [ 36 ], Marsupenaeus japonicus [ 37 ], Neocaridina davidi [ 38 ], Penaeus monodon ([ 39 , 40 ], and [ 41 ]), and 22 fish species included Amphilophus citrinellus × Cichlasoma trimaculatum [ 42 ], Astronotus ocellatus [ 12 ], Barilius bendelisis [ 43 ], Carassius auratus [ 44 ], Carassius auratus gibelio [ 45 – 47 ], Clarias gariepinus [ 48 , 49 ], Clarias macrocephalus [ 50 ], Cyprinus carpio ([ 51 – 53 ], and [ 13 , 14 ]), Cyrtocara moorii [ 54 , 55 ], Dicentrarchus labrax [ 56 ], Megalobrama amblycephala [ 57 ], Mugil liza [ 17 – 20 ], Oncorhynchus mykiss ([ 58 – 61 ], and [ 62 ]), Oplegnathus fasciatus [ 63 ], Oreochromis niloticus ([ 64 – 77 ], and [ 78 ]), Pagrus pagrus [ 79 ], Pangasinodon gigas [ 80 ], Pelteobagrus fulvidraco ([ 81 – 83 ], and [ 11 ]), Piaractus mesopotamicus [ 84 ], Salmo trutta caspius [ 85 , 86 ], Solea solea [ 87 , 88 ], and Trichopodus trichopterus [ 89 ]. Among the 28 species, 11 belonged to low trophic species, 16 were medium trophic species, and 1 was high trophic species ( O. mykiss ).…”

“…There existed big differences in the application efficacy of SPM in different aquaculture animals when it was regarded as a protein source in the diet formula. Fish meal could be 100% substituted by SPM with higher growth rate and better feed utilization in tilapia [ 69 ], while in C. moorii and A. citrinellus × C. trimaculatum , a small quantity of replacement for FM resulted in inferior growth and feed utilization [ 42 , 54 , 55 ]. Likewise, SPM, as a functional additive, exerted a negative influence on growth performance in some studies [ 82 ].…”

“…Twenty-eight species were encompassed in the study. Six shrimp species were studied, including Fenneropenaeus chinensis [31], Litopenaeus vannamei ( [32][33][34], and [35]), Macrobrachium rosenbergii [36], Marsupenaeus japonicus [37], Neocaridina davidi [38], Penaeus monodon ( [39,40], and [41]), and 22 fish species included Amphilophus citrinellus × Cichlasoma trimaculatum [42], Astronotus ocellatus [12], Barilius bendelisis [43], Carassius auratus [44], Carassius auratus gibelio [45][46][47], Clarias gariepinus [48,49], Clarias macrocephalus [50], Cyprinus carpio ( [51][52][53], and [13,14]), Cyrtocara moorii [54,55], Dicentrarchus labrax [56], Megalobrama amblycephala [57], Mugil liza [17][18][19][20], Oncorhynchus mykiss ( [58][59][60][61], and [62]), Oplegnathus fasciatus [63], Oreochromis niloticus ( [64][65][66][67]…”