Hi Donna,
In answer to Jackie's question, I first need to say that this one of those typical cases when a little knowledge (on her part) is dangerous, as there is obviously too little known by her as evidenced by her remarks and conclusions.
While Astaxanthin is not essential in raising fry, it is certainly beneficial. BUT -- to start with before we go any further -- there are far too many loose ends and inconclusive statements being tossed around here in Jackie's question/remarks. It looks like she wants to know if Astaxanthin is safe for raising fry, yet in the same context she's already condemning it without further information to support her "findings" apparently on the basis of one paper she has found.
A most important question in being able to answer her statement is, exactly what TYPE of Astaxanthin are we talking a about (what type is she referring to in her statements? AND, is she even aware that all Astaxanthin is not alike?)? Basically, there are two MAJOR types of Astaxanthin, depending upon how they are derived. Simply put, there is synthetic Astaxantin -- made from Petro -Chemicals, and there is natural Astaxanthin (a derivitive of Zeaxanthin) made by MicroAlgae (Spirulina is one of these MicroAlgaes which manufactures it naturally within their cells).
There's a HUGH difference between them, as (as Jackie states, "some fish cannot synthesize it on their own") synthetic Astaxanthin CANNOT be synthesized by MANY fish -- yet -- is used in a number of fish foods (it is banned from human consumption). The natural Astaxanthin, however, is digested and utilized extremely efficiently by all fish, and is a very useful source of essential amino acids (the building blocks of all cells) when supplied in this manner. In fact, it is well recognized that natural Astaxanthin is the BEST source of carotinoids, and the BEST source of the most effective antioxidants that can be obtained.
Not only does natural Astaxanthin promote increased breeding, but it promotes ACCELERATED fry growth in all fish and improves immunity and general health and well being in fish. As Golden Pearls use only natural Astaxanthin, her fears of this food leading to a growth limiting factor, leading to high mortality, promoting a nutritional deficiency and leading to poor health in her fish are completely unfounded.
Golden Pearls food is used by many top breeders that I personally know, including one of the leading Betta breeders in this country who is a personal friend of mine. He in fact just won 1st place awards in 1/3 of the classes of the entire IBC (International Betta Congress) National Show that was held in conjunction with my local NJAS (North Jersey Aquarium Society) Show this past October 15th -- 17th. This same food is also being used by my good friend Bob Larsen who is currently holding Second in standings of all the shows held nationally by the AGA (American Guppy Association) this year.
I do have to wonder about the loose-ended remark Jackie made when stating that "On low amounts the fish don't grow as well . . . " First of all, this would only pertain to artificial Astaxanthin, but it leaves me to wonder how much of this ingredient, natural or artificial, she thinks is being used in any of these fish foods which includes it. It's certainly not a major ingredient, as might be shrimp meal or such, except for foods specifically designed for herbivores (African Rift Lake Mbuna, as an example), in which case Spirulina flakes food makes up a major proportion -- but one doesn't feed Spirulina Flakes to Bettas.
Dawn brings out some good points, when she says that Bettas are insectivores, and goes on to say that these fish's digestive systems cannot handle vegetable matter (especially not in any large quantities). In addition to the mosquito larva and fruit fly larvae she mentions as good Betta foods, blood worms (midge fly larvae) are especially an optimum food for Bettas.
First foods for Betta fry can include newly hatched BBS -- also as Dawn stated -- and I've found this has always been one of the best foods they can be given. They're best fed to fry within the first 6 hours of their (BBS) hatching, as that's when they still have their yolk-sack (yes, BBS have yolk-sacks too). But, to increase their nutritional value even further, after these BBS have developed mouths after this 6 hours, one can feed one's BBS on powdered HUFA (Highly unsaturated fats) as a gut-fill, such as what is found in Spirulina, This additive can also be given to micro-worms, another good Betta food, but unless adequate circulation is supplied, micro-worms fall out of suspension in the water column to the bottom where not all the fry will be searching for food.
As an alternative to feeding Betta fry "only one thing," Golden Pearls -- with a minimal yet sufficient amount of Astaxanthin in it (to benefit fry) as one of the ingredients in it -- and as a natural Astaxanthin to boot -- would be a great addition to Betta fry's diet. As for this food having these relatively trace amounts of vegetable matter, practically all carnivores devour some plant matter as being incident to any animal matter they eat (especially carnivores like Betta fry, consuming their prey whole), as they mostly feed on plant eating animals (including insects) which will always have some stomach content of vegetable matter in them.
As for having the microworms consuming carrot peels, I hope she is not equating carrots with carotinoids just because they sound a bit the same. While it's true that carrots do contain large amounts of carotanoides, so do 600 other fruits and vegetables (tomatoes, apples, apricots, mangoes,peaches, cantaloupes, strawberries, broccoli, kiwi, etc.) Essentially, the same natural Astaxanthin that's found in the carotinoids of the fruits and vegetables is the same compound that's found in the MicroAlgae, only it's a much richer (and much more beneficial) compound when created by these MicroAlgeas -- such as spirulina.
Incidentally, the Hikari "First Bites" fish food that many hobbyists feed to their fish -- including feeding to their Bettas -- to great acclaim, also contains natural Astaxanthin as derived from Spirulina being a small part of its ingredients.
Ray
--- In tropicalfishclub@yahoogroups.com, Donna King <donnalynneking@...> wrote:
>
> Hey this came up on my betta group, do any of you know the answer to this. I've
> thought of using this food myself if I ever raise any angel fry now I'm thinking
> its not a good idea.
>
>
> I left my post so you can see what my response to her question was.
> Thanks!
> Donna
>
>
>
> ----- Forwarded Message ----
> From: Donna King <donnalynneking@...>
> Astaxanthin, Carotenoids in fry food
>
>
> Wow scary stuff! Good job doing your research. I don't know your answer but I
> would not feed them till I knew more. Have you called the company? I'll cc this
> to Gerald, maybe he'll be around and be able to help. I'll ask on my frog group
> too.
>
>
> Donna
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: haecklers <haecklers@...>
>
> Subject: [Betta Splendens] Astaxanthin, Carotenoids in fry food
>
>
> Is this an important element in raising betta fry? I started feeding my fry
> vinegar eels and infusoria, then switched to microworms, and Walter worms were
> next on the list but I feel odd feeding them only one thing at a time when all
> the rest of my fish get a varied diet.
>
> I've been looking at Golden Pearls, and they went to some trouble to tell folks
> they contain astaxanthin, which I'd never heard of before. Researching it I
> found a paper that said some fish can't synthesize it on their own and it can be
> a growth limiting factor, even lead to high mortality. It is a specific
> carotenoid. On low amounts the fish don't grow as well and aren't as healthy.
>
> I'm more worried about raising fry with a nutritional deficiency that would
> affect their future health.
>
> I'm thinking of trying a worm culture with some of my high quality fish food
> added, like the Omega or New Life Spectrum. Has anyone done that? Does it rot
> and stink or is it ok to add? What about carrot peels - would the worms be able
> to eat them? It looks like astaxanthin is only made by aquatic algae, tho.
>
> Anyone here raise fry using Golden Pearls or NatuRose powder?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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