[Killietalk] RE: Role of vitamins in fish color

["Koran, David HQ02" <David_Koran at hq02.usace.army.mil>]

Bob,

A couple of clicks did lead me to a melanin reference.  I am not saying that
vitamins create the colors but probably are more related to the vividness of
the colors, enhancing pigmentation if that is possible.  Most killies have
the expected color patterns but "conditioning" provides one with better
specimens.  I would say that sunlight (and hence something akin to vitamins)
has a factor in all of this, however, is this primary or something that
hasn't received much study.  I don't see a market SPF 15 creams for fish but
tanning beds, maybe...

From: "Robert Goldstein" <rgoldstein at rjgaCarolina_com>
Subject: Re: [Killietalk] RE: Role of vitamins in fish color

I don't know of any relationship between vitamin (or provitamin) D and fish 
colors. The pigments I know of are melanins, pterins, and carotenoids. 
Guanine crystals polare light reflected off the deep melanin layers to 
reflect blues and greens through the guanine crystals.

Join the AKA at http://aka.org/modules/tinycontent0/index.php?id=9
Archives are at http://fins.actwin.com/killietalk/
Modify your subscription at http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/killietalk