Effects of artificial photoperiod on the body colouration in the ornamental fish poecilia sphenops

Abstract

In Orange balloon Molly, Poecilia sphenops, the development of chronic stress due to continuous exposure to artificial LED lighting irrespective to photoperiod causes deterioration in the body colour even in the presence of carotenoid rich green water and artificial feed with added additives in the experimental fish
tank setup. In the present study, the effects of continuous exposure to lighting and its consecutive development of chronic stress causes the body colouration to fade off in the freshwater ornamental live bearer, Poecilia sphenops, though the fishes were provided with colour enhancing as well as stress relieving
factors. Several trials showed that, whatever may be the colour enhancing agents provided, artificial lighting for long exposure irrelevant to the normal photoperiod remains as a strong anti-colouration as well as stress inducing factor and remains unaffected to any antagonistic factors. To conclude photoperiod is an essential
factor to be concerned for colour enhancement in Poecilia sphenops.