Is Green Water Better For Koi Coloration Than Spirulina?

[koicluboftheair]

We hear much about the benefits of Spirulina, but not about Chlorella vulgaris a green algae, typically found in conditions referred to as "green water," which according to the following study provides better coloration and red hue in Kawari, Showa, and Bekko tested. So should we turn off our UV to color up our koi rather than spending extra on color enhancing koi food? Maybe we should emulsify the green pea soup and spray it on our koi food as a color enhancer instead of feeding the Hawaiian and other regions Spirulina market, which would seem to be less effective than the Chlorella vulgaris~pea soup at coloring up koi?

Colouring ornamental fish (Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus) with microalgal biomass

L. Gouveia, P. Rema, O. Pereira, J. Empis (2003)
Colouring ornamental fish (Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus) with microalgal biomass
Aquaculture Nutrition 9 (2), 123–129.

Koi carp and goldfish value increases with intensity of skin colour, which is an important quality criterion. Fish cannot fully synthesize their own carotenoid colourings and these must therefore be included in their diet. Two trials were undertaken to investigate skin colour enhancement in ornamental species (i.e. three chromatic varieties of koi carp (Cyprinus carpio), namely Kawari (red), Showa (black and red) and Bekko (black and white) and goldfish (Carassius auratus)) by feeding a dietary carotenoid supplement of freshwater microalgal biomass [Chlorella vulgaris, Haematococcus pluvialis, and also the cyanobacterium Arthrospira maxima (Spirulina)], using a diet containing synthetic astaxanthin and a control diet with no colouring added for comparison. In the first trial, five homogeneous duplicate groups of 25 juvenile koi carp (C. carpio) (initial mean body weight 24.6 ± 0.7 g) were fed, for 10 weeks, one of the four diets containing 80 mg colouring/kg diet. In the second trial, this procedure was repeated for five homogeneous duplicate groups of 25 goldfish (C. auratus) (initial mean body weight of 0.9 ± 0.1 g). Initial and final samples of skin along the dorsal fin were withdrawn, from five fish per group, for subsequent analysis of total carotenoid content (spectrophotometric analysis), and red hue (colorimetric analysis, CIE (1976) L* a* b* colour system). Growth and feed efficiency were not significantly different between groups administered by the various dietary treatments. In both trials, dietary carotenoid supplementation increased total skin carotenoid content. The more efficient colouring for koi carps was found to be C. vulgaris biomass, providing both maximum total carotenoid deposition and red hue for the three chromatic koi carp varieties studied, and particularly for the kawari variety. For goldfish the best colouring obtained, as ascertained by total carotenoid content, was also achieved using C. vulgaris biomass, and red hue was maximum when using H. pluvialis biomass.

[MikeM]

Interesting study. Letting ponds go pea soup green creates fundamental husbandry issues. The benefits of green water are outweighed in the hobbyist's pond. Nonetheless, there are benefits observed in natural ponds and mudponds when the greenwater is only lightly tinted. Color has been observed to improve, although the cause-effect has not been clear. It has been common lore that greenwater ponds can restore health to carp suffering various ailments of the skin. No doubt the algae itself contributes directly. The greater impact in those situations may be the ammonia-free environment (it is consumed by the algae), and the production of living foods that consume the algae and are in turn consumed by larger creatures edible by koi. The gut contents of such critters is high in algae.

Newbies should not take this to mean that it is good for their garden pond to be opaque green. It is not the same as a million gallon pond with 30 12" koi.

[koicluboftheair]

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeM Interesting study. Letting ponds go pea soup green creates fundamental husbandry issues. The benefits of green water are outweighed in the hobbyist's pond. Nonetheless, there are benefits observed in natural ponds and mudponds when the greenwater is only lightly tinted. Color has been observed to improve, although the cause-effect has not been clear. It has been common lore that greenwater ponds can restore health to carp suffering various ailments of the skin. No doubt the algae itself contributes directly. The greater impact in those situations may be the ammonia-free environment (it is consumed by the algae), and the production of living foods that consume the algae and are in turn consumed by larger creatures edible by koi. The gut contents of such critters is high in algae. Newbies should not take this to mean that it is good for their garden pond to be opaque green. It is not the same as a million gallon pond with 30 12" koi.

Obviously, much has been written about the need to control algae blooms, but the most abundant algae species in the green water does seem to be a direct benefit on color and more so that Spirulina as the study states.

I found this bit interesting on a UK website relative to the subject:

Green water, - is it really all that bad?

Green water offends the eye, creating a green blot on our aquatic landscape. It is regarded as the water gardening equivalent to leaving your garden to become over-run with nettles, dandelions and goose grass. It makes your wonderful creation look neglected and second-rate, reflecting badly on your abilities as a pond keeper. But take some solace in the fact that green water offers many benefits to your fish and pond life promoting improved health and colour. In fact, commercial breeders and farmers of ornamental pond fish such as goldfish and koi positively encourage green water to flourish in their ponds, recognising that fish benefit from living in such conditions.
http://www.pond-doctor.co.uk/longclearwater.htm

[Russell Peters]

What I understand from Mr. Sakai is that green water is not good for color development. Koi need sunlight to develope color so he says that the years in which his mud ponds have more algae, his color developement is down. A little bit of green water is good but it should not block the sunlight from reaching the bottom.

[koicluboftheair]

Quote: Originally Posted by Russell Peters What I understand from Mr. Sakai is that green water is not good for color development. Koi need sunlight to develope color so he says that the years in which his mud ponds have more algae, his color developement is down. A little bit of green water is good but it should not block the sunlight from reaching the bottom.

Then maybe it is then true that Chlorella vulgaris is a better supplement than Spirulina for coloration, but not in its commonly found form in green water?

[PapaBear]

Like anything else, ALL of the needed elements have to come together for any of them to perform at their best. Natural color enhancement in a particular food source may be UV dependent within the Koi's metabolism (much as sunlight alters the way humans process vitamin D)

[koicluboftheair]

Quote: Originally Posted by PapaBear Like anything else, ALL of the needed elements have to come together for any of them to perform at their best. Natural color enhancement in a particular food source may be UV dependent within the Koi's metabolism (much as sunlight alters the way humans process vitamin D)

In referencing the relationship of humans and sunlight relative to vitamin D I’m led back to Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis). Which is it anyhow a blue-green filamentous algae or a cyanobacteria? Regardless, for years it has been noted by some such as Grant Fujita who referenced Nigata testing that the carotenoid Zeaxanthin in Spirulina yields better color than Lutein carotenoid in Chlorella http://spirulina4nutrition.com/spirulina-for-fish.htm. However, koi and crustaceans unlike other animals are able to convert the Zeaxanthin and Lutein in their diet to astaxanthin (http://www.cyanotech.com/pdfs/bioastin/batl09.pdf ) Both the Spirulina and Chlorella have antioxidant characteristics, but the rub seems to be in the established manufacturing capacity of Spirulina and others such as Haematococcus ultimately for the Zeaxanthin astaxanthin conversion or directly in the latter, whereas the health benefit to koi of green water is a non-financial starter for industry.

[koiczar]

Colouring ornamental fish (Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus) with microalgal biomass

L. Gouveia, P. Rema, O. Pereira, J. Empis (2003)
Colouring ornamental fish (Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus) with microalgal biomass
Aquaculture Nutrition 9 (2), 123–129.

...Two trials were undertaken to investigate skin colour enhancement in ornamental species (i.e. three chromatic varieties of koi carp (Cyprinus carpio), namely Kawari (red), Showa (black and red) and Bekko (black and white)...

John

Why would ANYONE want to feed their bekko (black and white) a caretenoid food??? For that matter whoever performed these trials doesn't even seem to know what the hell a kawari or a showa are for that matter. How reliable do you believe the data derived from the tests are? I mean really, Showa (red and black), really, since when? Kawari which loosely translates to "all others" meaning any koi that doesn't fall into a specifically already identified variety, would ONLY BE RED!!!????

Here's my input for what it's worth - If you learn to understand what "QUALITY" looks like, you don't need color enhancing food. All you're doing is putting stress on a koi's already challenged system to force a production of color cells to appease a hobbyist that wouldn't know good quality beni from poor quality WallyMart beni in the first place. It may look nice for a short while, but it only lessens an already challenged beni plate as it reduces it's level of intesified color later down the road. Some breeders sadly still use it to "color up" chuppa class fish to make them more marketable and thus easier to sell for dealers when they receive them. It's just leading customers into thinking they're getting something good for a cheap price that 'looks" just like the $3500 nisai they saw in one of the high class koi tanks in the back only more in their price range. 2 or 3 months go by and that fish is now being fed with "who knows what" chow and that intense color the fish had is gone, or worse, all the hi disappears and rather suddenly. Sound like a good program? I don't think so!!
(1976) L* a* b* colour system). Growth and feed efficiency were not significantly different between groups administered by the various dietary treatments. In both trials, dietary carotenoid supplementation increased total skin carotenoid content. The more efficient colouring for koi carps was found to be C. vulgaris biomass, providing both maximum total carotenoid deposition and red hue for the three chromatic koi carp varieties studied, and particularly for the kawari variety.

See comments above. Really John, this is absolutely rediculous. Too bad you couldn't have come to the Sakai seminar. You'd have learned a whole lot about what hi class beni is all about without having to feed any "color-up" type of food!

Mike

[bekko]

"Green water" is not synonymous with "Chlorella". While an axenic Chlorella culture is green, "green water" (in the context of fish husbandry) is more akin to an ecosystem. There will invariably be a variety of algae species with a couple of dominant forms, one of which may or may not be Chlroella. As importantly, green water also includes various bacteria, fungi, and zooplankton, plus detritus. Green water interacts with the substrate and its biota below and the atmosphere above. The magic of green water lies in the ecosystem interactions. A carp would have a hard time making much use of a pure culture of Chlorella or any single cell algae. They are just not equipped to concentrate it for consumption. However, carp have evolved to make exquisite use of detrital aggregates which include single cell algae, zooplankton and benthic invertebrates, bacteria, fungi and the rest. This is THE BEST food for koi and other carp. Yes, it contains pigments - from both plant and animal origin. It also has an ideal fatty acid and amino acid profile. Just good nutrition all around.

BTW, blue-green algae = cyanobacteria = photosynthetic bacteria

-s teveh

[koicluboftheair]

Quote: Originally Posted by koiczar Colouring ornamental fish (Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus) with microalgal biomass John Why would ANYONE want to feed their bekko (black and white) a caretenoid food??? For that matter whoever performed these trials doesn't even seem to know what the hell a kawari or a showa are for that matter. Here's my input for what it's worth - If you learn to understand what "QUALITY" looks like, you don't need color enhancing food. Mike

Mike,
I suspect they gave more respect in the study to the cultural terminology than most, which would have merely referred to them as Cyprinus carpio. Testing the bekko with a caretenoid food could have been something of a control. Plus, it would demonstrate any possible ill effects. As for knowing quality, I'd agree that the scientist/aquaculturist probably doesn't look at it the same way as a culturist/hobbyist. The mass market production of pond quality koi far surpasses that tailored to the club/show/high end market. The latter group of consumers are marketed to for single or a few high quality fish while a comparable truck load of pond fish (culls) are sold to the Super store. And I suspect it is the breeders, dealers, and club/show/high end market that purchase and utilize most of the color enhancing food not the end user of the fish from the Super store. Lots of different thoughts here as your response could be looked at in a variety of ways.
Regards.