Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Aquaculture Research, cilt.52, sa.11, ss.5579-5584, 2021 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
This study was conducted to investigate effects of different ratios of red pepper (Capsicum annuum) on the growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR), hepatopancreas histopathology, skin and tail coloration of jewel cichlid (Hemichromis guttatus). Five isonitrogenous (370 g/kg1) and isoenergetic (3831 kcall/kg−1) experimental diets were prepared by adding of 3%, 7%, 11% and % 15 red peppers to diet. In the experiment, fifteen fish (initial weight 3.43 ± 0.03 g) were stocked into each aquarium as three replicate. The fish were fed as ad libitum for 90 days. The end of the experiment, growth performances and FCR of fish fed diet containing red pepper showed no significant differences when compared to that of fish fed the control diet (p > 0.05). However, fish fed a diet containing 3% and 7% red pepper meal showed higher growth values than fish fed with 11% and 15% red pepper meal (p < 0.05). Addition of red peppers at a different ratio to diet improved coloration of jewel cichlid. Redness (a*) values in the skin and tail were increased in fish fed red pepper supplemented to diet. (b*) values in skin of fish fed with red pepper supplemented diets were higher than in the control group. At the histopathological examination of the hepatopancreas, there were no pathological findings in the control and 3% pepper added groups. Slight to moderate lipidosis was observed in 7, 11 and 15% pepper added groups. These results suggested that 3% red pepper in diet can be used to obtained good coloration without affecting jewel cichlid health.