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Effect of astaxanthin and vitamin A on growth and survival during first feeding of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.
Author(s) -
Christiansen R.,
Lie Ø.,
Torrissen O.J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2109.1994.tb01352.x
Subject(s) - astaxanthin , salmo , biology , vitamin , zoology , vitamin e , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , food science , carotenoid , endocrinology , biochemistry , antioxidant
. The interactions of astaxanthin and vitamin A on the growth and survival of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., during the first‐feeding period were examined using semi‐purified diets. Alevins, with a mean initial weight of 0.18g, were fed diets supplemented with 0, 20 and 40 mg astaxanthin/kg dry diet and 0, 750 and 1500 μg vitamin A/kg dry diet for 20 weeks. The weights of the fish were recorded throughout the experimental period and carcasses were collected for proximate composition, vitamin A and astaxanthin analyses at the beginning and end of the experiment. The feeds were analysed for proximate composition, vitamin A and astaxanthin levels. No interaction between astaxanthin and vitamin A was found in relation to the growth, survival or vitamin A content of the fry. Astaxanthin was found to strongly influence the growth, survival and vitamin A concentration in the fish. Poor growth and low survival rates were observed in groups fed diets without astaxanthin, including the group fed a diet with sufficient vitamin A. The results indicate both a provitamin A function of astaxanthin and a specific function of astaxanthin. Astaxanthin was found to be essential to alevins during the first‐feeding period.