Diets1   C SA MB CSB Moisture 3.05 3.46 2.91 2.53 Crude protein 32.0 32.0 32.4 32.5 Crude lipid 11.7 11.9 12.4 12.2 Ash 6.87 6.85 6.71 6.78 Total carotenoids 2.31 30.6 68.3 51.5 Astaxanthin 0 29.4 38.5 37.7 Diets were recognized by their Asx source: C = Control diet, SA = Synthetic Asx, MB = Marine bacteria, CSB = Combined SA and MB. Asx content in all of the pigment diets were 30 mg Asx/kg.

Table 2: Results of proximate analysis and astaxanthin content in the experimental diet.