Project Ang Kong Kong, An evaluation of the effectivenss of color enhancers Options

[goldrush]

Dear all


Project Ang Kong Kong was launched to assess the effectiveness of color enhancers in bringing about an improvement of colors in our goldfish.It took me over two months to come up with a reasonable conclusion.Color enhancers have been chided by many while others swear by them to improve fish coloration. Why the controversy?

Let me show you some positive effects of color enhancers



Single color fish should show uniform coloration without specks of concentrated red spots which may blemish an already uninteresting monotone fish





This red/white fish is fed with exclusively on astaxanthin with wheatgerm based paste food (3 meals a day)

[goldrush]

This fish is on pure spirulina based color enhancer also in wheatgerm based paste.





The side view of this fish was shown yesterday here


http://www.rafflesgold.com/forums/index.ph...ost&p=57705

[goldrush]

Ok now the detrimental effects of color enhancers

This fish in its original form






After being fed on spirulina based color enhancer diet for 40days this is what I get

[goldrush]

Some more embarassing pic of the same fish






The underside showing yellow to orange infiltration







This fish died soon after the experiment but whether due to overdosage of color enhancer,I really donno

[goldrush]

So what can you draw from this project.Why two different results on two different fish?Are color enhancers double edge swords that can cut with color precision and one that can slice without boundaries!!!


Let me take my lunch first

[goldrush]

Maybe some questions and answers

When do I use color enhancers?Well,color enhancers are like makeups to me.Just like in any beauty paegent a dose of makeup will enhance the beauty of a potential contestant.Similarly when there is an upcoming show(Sept 25 MFGC),we would like the parade our fish in its best possible colours.However routinely enhancers should be kept at the minimal.



How should I use them?

Both natural and synthetic color enhancers will do the job equally well but the following criteria must be met.
Genetics aside,color enhancers are purely external influences which by themselves do not add or heighten a particular color which are not inherent within the fish.As fish cannot synthesize carotenoids,it has to ingest through external source to complete the colour generation.Bare in mind that color enhancers are only effective in their execution only in FULL SUN!!!!!.You can only reap the color enhancement in the presence of sunlight.Short of that you end up with what I got with the fish with detrimental effect!


What about green water and color enhancement?

A notable and green water practitioner told me once of the limitation of color enhancers.Well to all green water fans,color enhancers will not add nor improve your fish colors as your fish are already enjoying nature best source of color enhancement(green water).It is clear water practitioner like me that need to supplement through external source of carotenoids that will improve the colors of my fishes.


Silly I'm asking myself these questions maybe it's time for you to ask?

[bekko]

Improving the red is easier than improving the white. Any tips for improving white? Diet? Water quality?

-steve

[goldrush]

Improving the red is easier than improving the white. Any tips for improving white? Diet? Water quality?

-steve

Halo Steve

Actually there aren't any specific diet for whites.But I go for feed with high quality White fish meal.As for water quality its lustre can be improve through incorporating clay into the water or even added into its feed.I think with good water maintenance white should able to take care of itself by and large.

[goldrush]

Now if you look at the biochemistry of betacarotene,it is a known precursor of Vitamin A.Vitamin A offers protection against UV damage to the skin.So if I will to derive a direct relation,Betacarotene should offer protection against skin damage to the fish as well and has a secondary role in enhancing the colors of your fish.But wait !!!!!What happens when there is no sun(UV radiation)?Excess Vitamin A is allowed to accumulate over time and this has detrimental effect on the well being of your fish.Vitamin A toxicity can cause more severe symptoms such as growth retardation, enlarged spleen and liver and even death.So in the absence of the sun,if you use too much carotenoids in your diet,you may actually do more harm than good! I'm just postulating here without enough scientific evidence to support my claim but there exists a potential possibility of such a risk if we over indulge.

[goldrush]

Carotenodermia is reversible(yellowish skin) but Hypervitaminosis A is deadly.So did my fish died from an overdose???God knows

[MachoRanchu]

Good to see Doc bringing this topic up for other hobbyists to learn more about color enhancers. Here's my contribution....

Diet is mainly frozen bloodworm, wall algae, spirulina granulat, growth pellets and a little bit of Saki Hikari Purple over a period of 4 months.

Before:




After:


Now this fish looks so 'dirty'.

[goldrush]

Halo Macho

glad you can contribute further to emphasize the over usage of color enhancers.

Has your fish being kept indoor for any period within this 4 months?

My personal experience and observation is that fish kept indoor without sun that are fed color enhancers will deteriorate at a faster rate.Secondly the source of spirulina is vital in its influence .Pure cultured spirulina has a better control than poorly synthesized spirulina algae from unknown source.Generally the more expensive grade has better result without smudging than cheaper brands.

[MachoRanchu]

Hi Doc,

Actually the fella is kept in an outdoor tub in my balcony. As our earth is constantly rotating, direct sunlight will only hit the tub during Oct-Dec period, hence I started using spirulina and Saki Hikari Purple prior to it.

For spirulina granulat, I'm using 'Tropical' brand, if I'm not wrong is from Europe. Surprisingly the other fishes' colors are all within control.

I guess if we never have a setback, we'll never learn from it. I'll just have to accept the fish for what is it.

Halo Macho

glad you can contribute further to emphasize the over usage of color enhancers.

Has your fish being kept indoor for any period within this 4 months?

My personal experience and observation is that fish kept indoor without sun that are fed color enhancers will deteriorate at a faster rate.Secondly the source of spirulina is vital in its influence .Pure cultured spirulina has a better control than poorly synthesized spirulina algae from unknown source.Generally the more expensive grade has better result without smudging than cheaper brands.

[goldrush]

Project Ang kong kong is not just confined to ranchu cultivation.These two single colored Ryukins are fed on 40 days of high spirulina based food.Identical,synchronised and well paired for competition?Too bad no pattern

[Noidea]

I regret feeding my black/white panda goldfish with Hikari Spirulina. After finishing the whole pack, all of them change their color to red with slight black on the edge of their fins.

Now trying to feed them Hikari Wheat Germs pack and see whether it will goes back to black color.