This study aimed at evaluating the effect of natural astaxanthin extracted from shrimp
shells on the growth and skin pigmentation of the Orange clownfish, Amphiprion percula.
Astaxanthin diets (with serial concentrations of 0–150
mg kg−1 feed) supplemented
to the Orange clownfish were set up to improve their performance. Our data
revealed that the astaxanthin feed did significantly affect the Orange clownfish skin
pigmentation. After 8 weeks on the 75–150
μg g−1 concentration astaxanthin diet, the
high redness (a*) value was measured at 14.40–14.95
(Minolta, CR400), while the control
group had an a* value of 10.53 ± 0.26 (p < 0.05). The highest carotenoid level was
also determined in fish skin (UV–vis
spectrophotometer) of 44.20 ± 2.12 μg g−1 tissues
at the carotenoid concentration of 150 μg g−1. The higher values of the growth of this
specie were also observed in the groups with feed added astaxanthin compared with
the control group. Our findings suggest that natural astaxanthin from shrimp shells
could be applied in the field of aquaculture to improve the skin pigmentation and
growth of the Orange clownfish.