Carotenoids as a Source of Pigmentation in Juvenile Lobsters Fed a Purified Diet

Abstract

Pigmentation of cultured lobsters is dependent upon the presence of dietary carotenoids. Inclusion of pure or crude carotenoids in a purified diet results in the accumulation of exoskeleton pigments tentatively identified by thin-layer chromatography and spectrophotometric analysis as primarily astaxanthin and β-carotene. Despite the lack of de novo synthesis pure carotenoids such as β-carotene, echinenone, and canthaxanthin are transformed into astaxanthin. The level of pigmentation produced by these biosynthetic precursors is related to the proximity to the astaxanthin end product. A carotenoid extract from crayfish waste dissolved in cod liver oil, and oleoresin paprika were effective in producing pigmentation. Rationale for the choice and use of carotenoid sources for incorporation into artificial feeds to produce natural pigmentation of cultured lobsters is discussed.