Growth, survival and skin coloration of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry fed with diet containing carotenoid pigments from squash (Cucurbita maxima) leaves [manuscript]
Date
2018
Authors
Marinel B. Dela Cruz
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Abstract
The study evaluate the effect of varying levels of carotenoid pigments from squash (Cucurbita maxima) leaves on the growth, survival and skin coloration of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry reared in glass aquaria. The treatments evaluated were Treatment I- commercial feeds + 0 mg pigment extract, Treatment II- commercial feeds + 500mg carotenoid pigment from squash leaves and Treatment III- commercial feeds + 1000mg carotenoid pigment from squash leaves. Nile tilapia in Treatment I obtained the highest final weight and gain in weight while Nile tilapia in Treatment III obtained the highest specific growth rate. However, analysis of variance revealed that final weight, gain in weight, and specific growth rate of Nile tilapia in all treatments were not significantly different. Fish survival in three treatments were also comparable. Nile tilapia in Treatment III showed more intense skin coloration compared to other treatments. Analysis of variance revealed that skin coloration of Nile tilapia in Treatment 3 was significantly more intense compared to those in other treatments.