Use of Tagetes erecta, Capsicum annuum and probiotic Rhodococcus sp. for growth and coloration increase in Pterophyllum scalare

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate and compare the effect of Tagetes erecta, Capsicum annuum and probiotic Rhodococcus sp. in growth, survival and coloration of fish Pterophyllum scalare. T. erecta buttons and chili were dehydrated and grinded to obtain the extracts following [1]. Bacteria Rhodococcus was cultured in BHI medium until obtaining a concentration of 2x107ufc/mL. Extracts and probiotic bacteria were used to enrich the administrated food to fish P. scalare. Every fifteen days biometrics were made to evaluate the growth and survival. By last, the increase in coloration in fish was evaluated [2], through measurement of pigments in fish tissue by spectrophotometry at a wave length of 500nm. Treatments where T. erecta, Capsicum annuum and Rhodococcus sp. pigments were added, obtained higher survival percentage than control treatment. Treatment with better results was Capsicum with 93.33% survival, weight gain 2.16 g, and total length gain of 19.01 mm. Lowest values were obtained in control treatment 1.02 g in weight gain and 8.73 mm of total length gain. Regarding to coloration of P. scalare, the best results were obtained in chili treatment, followed by Rhodococcus sp. Variance analysis in carotenoids content in tissue presented significant differences between treatments with a P=0.01.