The Physiological Benefits and Economic Value of Using Fairy Shrimp as Fish Meal for Flowerhorn Cichlids; <i>Amphilophus citrinellus</i> (Günther, 1864) × <i>Cichlasoma trimaculatum</i> (Günther, 1867)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization of fairy shrimp (<i>Branchinella thailandensis</i>) meal in the diets of flowerhorn cichlids, on their growth, skin coloration, carotenoid content, antioxidant activity, and innate immunity. The fish were fed diets incorporated with f...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ploychompoo Weber, Supranee Wigraiboon, Nantaporn Sutthi, Pattira Kasamesiri, Wipavee Thaimuangphol
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Fishes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/3/132
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849342966224650240
author Ploychompoo Weber
Supranee Wigraiboon
Nantaporn Sutthi
Pattira Kasamesiri
Wipavee Thaimuangphol
author_facet Ploychompoo Weber
Supranee Wigraiboon
Nantaporn Sutthi
Pattira Kasamesiri
Wipavee Thaimuangphol
author_sort Ploychompoo Weber
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization of fairy shrimp (<i>Branchinella thailandensis</i>) meal in the diets of flowerhorn cichlids, on their growth, skin coloration, carotenoid content, antioxidant activity, and innate immunity. The fish were fed diets incorporated with fairy shrimp meal at 0% (control; FS0), 10% (FS10), 20% (FS20), and 30% (FS30) for 60 days. The results showed that growth performance and chemical composition were not significantly different among treatments (<i>p</i> > 0.05), whereas fish fed the 30% fairy shrimp meal (FS30) diet represented significantly enhanced skin coloration, particularly in terms of redness (a*) and dominant wavelength (H°ab). The highest level of antioxidant enzymes and non-specific immune enzymes such as SOD and lysozyme were observed in the fish fed the FS30 diet. Meanwhile, increasing fairy shrimp meal significantly reduced the liver function markers (ALT and AST), and decreased lipid peroxidation. These findings suggest that fairy shrimp meal serves as a valuable dietary ingredient for enhancing skin pigmentation, boosting antioxidant defense, and stimulating immune responses in flowerhorn cichlids. Moreover, the economic evaluation of using fairy shrimp meal as an ingredient for ornamental fish demonstrates promising investment potential, supporting its application in commercial aquaculture.
format Article
id doaj-art-2cf4d70332d34f29b921537732f70b1e
institution Kabale University
issn 2410-3888
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Fishes
spelling doaj-art-2cf4d70332d34f29b921537732f70b1e2025-08-20T03:43:11ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882025-03-0110313210.3390/fishes10030132The Physiological Benefits and Economic Value of Using Fairy Shrimp as Fish Meal for Flowerhorn Cichlids; <i>Amphilophus citrinellus</i> (Günther, 1864) × <i>Cichlasoma trimaculatum</i> (Günther, 1867)Ploychompoo Weber0Supranee Wigraiboon1Nantaporn Sutthi2Pattira Kasamesiri3Wipavee Thaimuangphol4Mahasarakham Business School, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, ThailandApplied Animal and Aquatic Sciences Research Unit, Division of Fisheries, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, ThailandApplied Animal and Aquatic Sciences Research Unit, Division of Fisheries, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, ThailandFaculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, ThailandApplied Animal and Aquatic Sciences Research Unit, Division of Fisheries, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, ThailandThe aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization of fairy shrimp (<i>Branchinella thailandensis</i>) meal in the diets of flowerhorn cichlids, on their growth, skin coloration, carotenoid content, antioxidant activity, and innate immunity. The fish were fed diets incorporated with fairy shrimp meal at 0% (control; FS0), 10% (FS10), 20% (FS20), and 30% (FS30) for 60 days. The results showed that growth performance and chemical composition were not significantly different among treatments (<i>p</i> > 0.05), whereas fish fed the 30% fairy shrimp meal (FS30) diet represented significantly enhanced skin coloration, particularly in terms of redness (a*) and dominant wavelength (H°ab). The highest level of antioxidant enzymes and non-specific immune enzymes such as SOD and lysozyme were observed in the fish fed the FS30 diet. Meanwhile, increasing fairy shrimp meal significantly reduced the liver function markers (ALT and AST), and decreased lipid peroxidation. These findings suggest that fairy shrimp meal serves as a valuable dietary ingredient for enhancing skin pigmentation, boosting antioxidant defense, and stimulating immune responses in flowerhorn cichlids. Moreover, the economic evaluation of using fairy shrimp meal as an ingredient for ornamental fish demonstrates promising investment potential, supporting its application in commercial aquaculture.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/3/132flowerhorn cichlidfairy shrimpskin pigmentationcarotenoid
spellingShingle Ploychompoo Weber
Supranee Wigraiboon
Nantaporn Sutthi
Pattira Kasamesiri
Wipavee Thaimuangphol
The Physiological Benefits and Economic Value of Using Fairy Shrimp as Fish Meal for Flowerhorn Cichlids; <i>Amphilophus citrinellus</i> (Günther, 1864) × <i>Cichlasoma trimaculatum</i> (Günther, 1867)
Fishes
flowerhorn cichlid
fairy shrimp
skin pigmentation
carotenoid
title The Physiological Benefits and Economic Value of Using Fairy Shrimp as Fish Meal for Flowerhorn Cichlids; <i>Amphilophus citrinellus</i> (Günther, 1864) × <i>Cichlasoma trimaculatum</i> (Günther, 1867)
title_full The Physiological Benefits and Economic Value of Using Fairy Shrimp as Fish Meal for Flowerhorn Cichlids; <i>Amphilophus citrinellus</i> (Günther, 1864) × <i>Cichlasoma trimaculatum</i> (Günther, 1867)
title_fullStr The Physiological Benefits and Economic Value of Using Fairy Shrimp as Fish Meal for Flowerhorn Cichlids; <i>Amphilophus citrinellus</i> (Günther, 1864) × <i>Cichlasoma trimaculatum</i> (Günther, 1867)
title_full_unstemmed The Physiological Benefits and Economic Value of Using Fairy Shrimp as Fish Meal for Flowerhorn Cichlids; <i>Amphilophus citrinellus</i> (Günther, 1864) × <i>Cichlasoma trimaculatum</i> (Günther, 1867)
title_short The Physiological Benefits and Economic Value of Using Fairy Shrimp as Fish Meal for Flowerhorn Cichlids; <i>Amphilophus citrinellus</i> (Günther, 1864) × <i>Cichlasoma trimaculatum</i> (Günther, 1867)
title_sort physiological benefits and economic value of using fairy shrimp as fish meal for flowerhorn cichlids i amphilophus citrinellus i gunther 1864 i cichlasoma trimaculatum i gunther 1867
topic flowerhorn cichlid
fairy shrimp
skin pigmentation
carotenoid
url https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/3/132
work_keys_str_mv AT ploychompooweber thephysiologicalbenefitsandeconomicvalueofusingfairyshrimpasfishmealforflowerhorncichlidsiamphilophuscitrinellusigunther1864icichlasomatrimaculatumigunther1867
AT supraneewigraiboon thephysiologicalbenefitsandeconomicvalueofusingfairyshrimpasfishmealforflowerhorncichlidsiamphilophuscitrinellusigunther1864icichlasomatrimaculatumigunther1867
AT nantapornsutthi thephysiologicalbenefitsandeconomicvalueofusingfairyshrimpasfishmealforflowerhorncichlidsiamphilophuscitrinellusigunther1864icichlasomatrimaculatumigunther1867
AT pattirakasamesiri thephysiologicalbenefitsandeconomicvalueofusingfairyshrimpasfishmealforflowerhorncichlidsiamphilophuscitrinellusigunther1864icichlasomatrimaculatumigunther1867
AT wipaveethaimuangphol thephysiologicalbenefitsandeconomicvalueofusingfairyshrimpasfishmealforflowerhorncichlidsiamphilophuscitrinellusigunther1864icichlasomatrimaculatumigunther1867
AT ploychompooweber physiologicalbenefitsandeconomicvalueofusingfairyshrimpasfishmealforflowerhorncichlidsiamphilophuscitrinellusigunther1864icichlasomatrimaculatumigunther1867
AT supraneewigraiboon physiologicalbenefitsandeconomicvalueofusingfairyshrimpasfishmealforflowerhorncichlidsiamphilophuscitrinellusigunther1864icichlasomatrimaculatumigunther1867
AT nantapornsutthi physiologicalbenefitsandeconomicvalueofusingfairyshrimpasfishmealforflowerhorncichlidsiamphilophuscitrinellusigunther1864icichlasomatrimaculatumigunther1867
AT pattirakasamesiri physiologicalbenefitsandeconomicvalueofusingfairyshrimpasfishmealforflowerhorncichlidsiamphilophuscitrinellusigunther1864icichlasomatrimaculatumigunther1867
AT wipaveethaimuangphol physiologicalbenefitsandeconomicvalueofusingfairyshrimpasfishmealforflowerhorncichlidsiamphilophuscitrinellusigunther1864icichlasomatrimaculatumigunther1867