Utility of almond leaf (Terminalia cattapa) for improving growth and color quality of neon tetra fish (Paracheirodon innesi)

Abstract

Ornamental fish farming is easy to stress, which results in fading colors and patterns of the body. The effort to maintain the color and pattern of the fish’s body are using Almond leaf. This study aims to obtain the optimum concentration of Almond leaf in the maintenance of neon tetra fish, which is expected to improve the color quality and growth of fish. Neon tetra fish seeds measuring 1 - 2 cm were maintained in an aquarium sizing 25 cm x 40 cm x 28 cm with a stocking density of 4 tails liter−1. The completely randomized design (CRD) was applied with four treatments and three replications. The different of Almond concentrations as a treatment i.e. 0 ppm, 250 ppm, 500 ppm, and 750 ppm. Parameters measured such as survival (SR), growth (absolute length and weight), color quality (lightness, chroma, hue a, and b) and glucose levels. Water quality measured such as DO, temperature, pH, conductivity, TDS, ammonia and nitrite. The results showed that Almond leaf affected the growth of absolute length and absolute weight. Almond leaf with a concentration of 500 ppm could improve color quality, especially for green-red colors.