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Abstract
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Objective: In the present experiment, effect of dietary spirulina microalgae
Arthrospira maxima supplementation on colour enhancement of Zebra Malawi cichlid
Pseudotropheus zebra was investigated.
Methods: Six experimental diets including spirulana at levels of 0 (control), 5,
10, 15, 20 and 25% were fed to a total of 180 fish for 5 weeks (initial weight of fish, 15gr,
10 individuals per group). The treatments were triplicated, fish were fed ad libitum, twice
daily(8 am, 8am). Dissolved oxygen and other water quality factors were held at optimum
level for tested fish. At the end of the experiment( day 35) color of fish was measured
using an Image Processing software (10000*14000dpi quality). Image processing was
carried out in Photoshop software using L*a*b system. Oriana 3.0.0 software and SPSS
ver. 14 was used for statistical analysis ( Rayleigh test, for circular normality distribution
test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, ANOVA, etc.) and Excel 2007 software was used to
outlining graphs and charts.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that Spirulina treatment led to a
significant enhancement of L mean level at all treatments. No significant difference in
mortality and growth was observed between treatment groups. Optimum inclusion rate of
spirulina was 15% and this resulted in a significant colour enhancement in all studied
parameters compared with the control.
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