Studies on effect of marine macro algae Enteromorpha intestinalis as skin color enhancer and as an alternative for fish meal in feed supplemented to ornamental fishes

Abstract

Dried powder of marine algae Enteromorpha intestinalis has been found as a potent skin color enhancer and growth promoter in freshwater ornamental fishes. Juveniles of Guppies and Rosy barb 30 fishes (10 fishes in each glass bowl) were fed with macroalgae at 1%, 2% and 3% concentration level through fishmeal based supplementary diet for a period of 30 days. The study was an attempt to observe the responses of Enteromorpha diet towards skin color development and muscle growth pattern of the culture species as well as the probable economic returns obtained from the experiment in order to commercialize the particular product in local aqua feed market. The desired level of macro algae administration produced animals with significantly (T