| 英文摘要 |
Today with a turnover of US $9 billion a year and an annual growth of 8%, the ornamental fish is a global component of international trade and is one of the most economic and profitable areas of fish farming activities. The live-bearing category of ornamental fishes are one of the most popular of all ornamental fishes with the fish hobbyists and entrepreneurs because of the fact that they are brightly colored, accept all kind of food and breed prolifically to produce living free swimming young ones. The two main aspects that determine the trade and prosperity of the ornamental fish industry are health and pigmentation of the ornamental fishes. To achieve consumer acceptance and an optimum price, angel fish and koi must appeal to the eye with its reddish-orange pigmentation. This color is derived from the deposition of carotenoids in its tissue. Since fish, like other animals, are not able to denovo synthesis of carotenoids, they have to obtain them from dietary sources. Angel fish (Pterophyllum scalare) are generally reared in eutrophic ponds, in which chlorophyta constitute the dominant flora. As algae are rich in carotenoids, angel fish cultured in such environments exhibit an excellent intensive coloring. However, this coloration can not be achieved under aquarium rearing condition, if carotenoid sources are not added into the fish diets. As most of the ornamental fish produced in Southeast Asia are destined for export, the fish must not only be attractive but also robust to withstand long air transportation. The polyethylene-bag transport system has greatly reduced the shipping weight of ornamental fish consignments and made them feasible for air transportation. The use of packaging technology for air transport to increase fish leading density and improve post-shipment survival is critical to the industry. The key liming factor to decrease stress of fish in transportation system is to increase immune system of fish. A variety of techniques have been developed to manage the air transportation. They include starving fish before packaging or diets treated with vitamin C or Chinese herbal medicine to increase the ability of immune system. The present study will be designed to determine (1) the most suitable levels of algal powder, astaxanthin, and natural pigments inclusion in the diets to achieve the best skin pigmentation in angel fish; (2) the most suitable levels of vitamin C and Chinese herbal medicine inclusion in the diets to achieve the highest survival of Guppy (Poecilia reticulate) during air transportation. |