Reed Mariculture Reformulates Clownfish Feed for Optimal Level of Astaxanthin

Listen to this article

An independent study conducted at the Virginia Tech’s Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC) concluded that the most desirable coloration in a popular clownfish, Amphiprion ocellaris (“False Percula Clownfish”), can be achieved when high quality food is top-dressed with enough microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis to result in 400 parts per million (ppm) of the red carotenoid astaxanthin.

The study was part of an ongoing, integrated collaborative research program between the Virginia Seafood AREC, Mid-Atlantic AquaTech and Reed Mariculture Inc. The research was carried out by two students from the Virginia Governor’s School for Science and Technology under the mentorship of Steve Urick, Virginia Tech Seafood Hatchery manager and research specialist.

The research evaluated the color of Amphiprion ocellaris that were fed Reed Mariculture Inc.’s TDO Chroma BOOST fish and coral feed with the red carotenoid astaxanthin added at levels of 0, 150, 250, 400, 640 and 1,020 ppm for seven weeks. There were 40 juvenile fish per astaxanthin level in the study, for a total of 240 fish.

Subjective evaluations of color were made by a panel of six local retail pet store owners experienced in the sale of clownfish. Panelists were first tested to confirm that they could visually discriminate between different colors by means of triangle tests. Then the panelists assigned a color preference score using a scale of 0 (lowest preference) to nine (highest preference) to the fish fed TDO Chroma BOOST with the different levels of astaxanthin.

The clear favorite, with an average score of 8.3, was TDO Chroma BOOST with 400 ppm of astaxanthin when reds were optimum and whites were at their brightest.

Astaxanthin Level       Average Preference Score

0 ppm                                                    2.8

150 ppm                                                4.8

250 ppm                                                5.3

400 ppm                                               8.3

640 ppm                                               5.2

1020 ppm                                             4.8

The results of the study led Reed Mariculture to reformulate TDO Chroma BOOST to include 400 ppm astaxanthin. The granule/pellet feed is available in seven different sizes, and multi-size packs are also available. The feed is marketed by two Reed Mariculture product lines, Reef Nutrition and APBreed, for use with salt and freshwater fish and corals. It provides high quality fish meal protein for easy digestion and feed conversion, and is sold in state-of-the-art foil bags that support freshness for up to a year with proper handling and constant refrigeration.