Abstract

We examined the cause of albinism in a hatchery population of flounder in terms of environmental and nutritional factors, including the effects of light intensity (130-12,300 lux), photoperiod (12L/12D or 24L/0D), tank substrate (concrete or fiber-reinforced polymer), tank color (white or dark green) and supplement with enriched live food, and also compared the growth of normal and albino fry under both 12L/12D and 24L/0D. Further to, normalization of the skin pigmentation pattern on the ocular side has been juvestigated after rearing the albino fry for 2 years after their identification and classification and found that, light intensity did not play a critical role in the development of normal pigmentation or albinism in the flounder. By contrast, the photoperiod was a weak inducer of albinism in the flounder. Tank substrate and color also affected the hypomelanosis on the ocular side of the flounder fry. The choice and supplementation of enriched live foods could drastically reduce the incidence of albinos in hatcheries. On comparing the growth of normal and albino fry, while there was no difference between the groups under 24L/0D, the growth of the albino flounder was slower under 12L/12D. Although coloration resulting from xanthophore and melanophore, but not iridophores, occurred on the ocular side, evidence of albinism remained on the ocular side of flounders.

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