Someone clear this up for me, please. RD. has been very helpful (I should probably send him this link). I am just learning about astaxanthin and its uses as a color enhancer. For humans it is used for its antioxidant characteristics. From what I understand (which isn't much), it is closely related to lutein and beta-carotein. Lutein and beta-carotein are also over-the-counter supplements and are found in almost any pharmacy. Do they have any uses for fish color enhancement too? Are they worth the money and effort? I know that a quality pellet food will provide ample color enhancers to a fish's diet, but I am trying to feed piranhas that have not been converted to prepared foods. They'll eat zucchini and peas (& meaty foods), but not Hikari. Go figure. I am still going to work on getting them to accept pellets, but in the meantime I would like to maximize their color potential. Are there any other such vitamins, herbs, etc. that are better options than shrimp shell and paprika?
OverTheCounter -HUMAN- Vitamins & Supplements
- Thread starter lujor
- Start date
Why not simply shove a pellet into each piece of meat, peas, or whatever that they are currently eating?
RD.;4396062; said:
I have tried that in the past with mixed results. About half the time the pellets would get freed from the shrimp while the Ps were eating. The Ps then ignored the pellets in favor of the shrimp. I may need to adjust my technique with this- smaller pellets or smaller pieces of shrimp. I plan on trying this again too, but I am hoping it will be easier to soak some pieces of shrimp and tilapia in something, freeze it,and feed that way. Of course, the easiest solution would be if the Ps would decide they like Massivore or other pellets. Also, this is a new mix of Ps. I have had one of the six for quite a while, but all I have really figured out with these individuals is that they do not eat pellets (yet). My other experience with Ps comes from a group I kept years ago. Again, thanks for all the help. I will post results.
If soaking works, it will be less labor intensive than stuffing prawns. I don't stuff mushrooms or bell peppers for myself or my wife; just seems wrong that I would do so for my fish.
Well certainly you can soak your food in various vitamin supplements, there are those made just for aquatics, but if your main goal is to bring out more red in your P's then it's not going to be quite so easy. Your gel pills are going to likely be mostly made up of fillers, such as safflower oil, gelatin, glycerin, etc.
BTW - astaxanthin is also used in aquaculture for its antioxidant properties.
So soaking is ok, but stuffing isn't? Not sure that I understand the logic behind that. The beauty of high quality pellets is they contain a proper balance of these nutrients/color enhancers, they don't just foucus on one area, or color. If you can't train your P's to eat pellets, even if stuffed into food, then I guess you'll have to figure something else out.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.
BTW - astaxanthin is also used in aquaculture for its antioxidant properties.
So soaking is ok, but stuffing isn't? Not sure that I understand the logic behind that. The beauty of high quality pellets is they contain a proper balance of these nutrients/color enhancers, they don't just foucus on one area, or color. If you can't train your P's to eat pellets, even if stuffed into food, then I guess you'll have to figure something else out.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.
RD.;4396527; said:
In my experience, soaking is much easier than stuffing pellets into pieces of meat.
I will admit, too, that I enjoy these amature experiments/tinkerings.
Just fed astaxanthin-soaked prawns to Ps for first time. They tore into it the same way they always do with prawns. I got 4mg gelcaps, cut one open, and dripped it onto some thawed raw, shelled and deveined prawns. It is a deep red colored oil. I took a fork and turned and skewered the prawns until they were evenly coated and I had punctured each a lot of times. I let them soak at room temp for a half hour and then fed. I will post again in a month or so if I feel like it is helping their color. I will also try to feed pellets some more.
Tried soaking some beefheart with astaxanthin and it created an oil slick on the water surface. Didn't have toomuch trouble when feeding the prawns, but just sspent 15 min skimming surface water off of my big tank. If it continues to be this messy I will not keep using it. Side note: I have been taking the astaxanthin with my daily vitamin. If I turn red or have discovered the new sunless tanner I will let you know.
Just talking to myself here, but I am uber excited. Last night my RBPs ate Massivore! FINALLY! One ingredient of Massivore is....... ASTAXANTHIN! Now I will continue to eat the supplements, and the RBPs will rotate on Massivore, NightCrawlers, Prawns, maybe some beefheart, and occasionally peas-with Massivore as the staple. Good diet?
Most "color enhancers" are just organic pigments. Organic pigments are usually poly-allylic, poly-cyclic or aromatic carbon compounds that absorb photons in the visible spectrum of light, and "pass" electrons around (hence the "anti-oxidant" properties: neutraizing free radicals".
Thus, like ASTAXANTHIN, you should be able to use any foods with pigments (pigments in spirullina algae, or anything in the red-orange spectrum if that's what you want. Beets, etc...). I have given my Blue Dolphins lots of spirulina, and have given cooked organic beets (leftovers from dinner) to my fish. Maybe can even soak fish food in beet juice? I might go try that!!!
Thus, like ASTAXANTHIN, you should be able to use any foods with pigments (pigments in spirullina algae, or anything in the red-orange spectrum if that's what you want. Beets, etc...). I have given my Blue Dolphins lots of spirulina, and have given cooked organic beets (leftovers from dinner) to my fish. Maybe can even soak fish food in beet juice? I might go try that!!!