Algae in fish diet

Algae are a source of protein and other important nutrients for ornamental fish. These nutrients are thought to be good for the fish’s health because they improve the fish’s condition, resistance, and coloration. Even though the types of algae vary a lot in how much protein they have and how they are made, they all seem to have all the amino acids that fish need. So, algae are a much more valuable part of a fish’s diet than other plant materials that are used to make protein.

Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis)

Spirulina is the algae that is most often used to feed fish (Arthrospira platensis). At first, the main reason people were interested in spirulina was because its cells have between 62% and 68% protein in them. Compared to the amount of protein in meat (15–25%) or soy (35%), this is a lot. Also, the protein in spirulina is much more valuable than protein from plants, even from legumes. High amounts of pigments like chlorophyll, caretonoids, and phycobilins were also found in Spirulina.

The amount of carotenoids in spirulina’s dry matter is thought to be 0.5%. I have beta-carotene and xanthophylls as well. Carotenoids are important in fish food because they boost the immune system, protect important cell parts from free radicals, and some of them are where vitamin A comes from. They also help the animal grow up and have babies, and they protect the skin and eggs from UV radiation. Carotenoids can’t be made by fish, so they have to get them from food. Colorful fish that are kept as decorations are especially demanding in this way. Super Spirulina Forte (which comes in flakes, granules, mini granules, chips, and tablets), Pleco’s Tablets, Hi-Algae Discs XXL, and Marine Power Spirulina Formula Granules have the most Spirulina in them. Soft Line Africa Herbivore (20%) also has a lot of these algae in it.

Chlorella (Chlorella vulgaris)

Chlorella is a single-celled green algae that lives in freshwater (Chlorophyta). In dry matter chlorella can contain 45-57% protein rich in essential amino acids. People say that chlorella is good for your health because its cells contain beta-glucan, which boosts the immune system. It also has a lot of chlorophyll, which makes up about 2% of the dry matter on average. Chlorophyll, which makes up 2% of plants, helps the body digest food, reduces the number of bacteria that make food smell bad, acts as an antioxidant, and helps rid the body of toxins. When used as a bath for fish, it helps heal skin wounds and infections, according to reports from aquarists. Carotenoids are plentiful in chlorella. About 0.4% of these pigments may be found in the dry matter of. You can find chlorella in the following foods: 3-Algae (available in the form of flakes, granules and sinking and adhesive tablets).

Kelp algae

Kelp algae are a group of brown seaweeds that are full of minerals, such as organic iodine compounds that are easy to absorb, vitamins, dietary fiber, and pigments like fucoxanthin and chlorophyll. The fiber in marine algae can make up between 33 and 50% of its dry weight. This is a lot more than what you would find in higher plants. There are two kinds of fiber in kelp algae: insoluble fibers like cellulose, mannan, and xylan, and soluble fibers like alginic acid, fucoidin, and laminarin. Dietary fiber slows down the movement of food through the intestines, helps good bacteria grow in the intestines, and binds bacterial toxins and heavy metal ions.

Several studies show that alginic acid, fucoidin, and laminarin have antibacterial and antiviral properties and help the immune system. Ascophyllym nodosum and Laminaria digitata are two types of marine macroalgae known as Kelp algae that are used in Tropical’s food. The following foods contain them: 3-Algae (which comes in flakes, granules, sinking tablets, and tablets that stick to the fish), Hi-Algae Discs XXL, and Soft Line Africa Herbivore.

Lithothamnium calcareum

They are small algae that live in the ocean. Because they make carbonate structures, people have long thought they were corals. Algae that are alive are purple-red in color and grow slowly, taking in both large and small amounts of elements. They are a great source of calcium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, iron, fluorine, phosphorus, potassium, iodine, zinc, selenium, and cobalt. Because they come from living things, these elements are very bioavailable. The following foods have Lithothamnium calcareum added to them: Soft Line Africa Herbivore, XXL Hi-Algae Discs.