Turmeric... as a color enhancer?

[Hybridfish7]

I remember vaguely reading that it can be used as a color enhancer for yellows in fish. I however, cannot find where I read that anymore. Only thing I can find on tumeric and fish is that it isn't toxic to them, feeding it to them increases appetite and has some medicinal properties, and that it makes them taste better or something. Anyone have any input on the color enhancement bit?

 

[Milingu]

I don't see where the colour enhancing effect should come from. Curcumin (the yellow in turmeric) gets metabolized pretty quick in the body (first pass effect) and therefore should neither be stored in bigger amounts in the fat cells nor in the chromatophores.

 

[RD.]

You are thinking of marigold. Some fish food manufacturers have been using marigold meal for many years to enhance the color yellow.

 

[Lepisosteus]

Hopefully RD. can chime in but I recall Astaxanthin is commonly used for red coloration in foods as well.

edit: nvm see we wanted yellow color