Vitamins are essential for the metabolism, growth, development, immunity, and reproduction of fish. Most of these nutrients cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by fish, so they must be obtained regularly through their diet. While natural feed ingredients contain some vitamins, they can be degraded during storage and processing, making it difficult to meet the full nutritional requirements of fish. In low-input or extensive aquaculture systems, fish often acquire necessary vitamins from natural food sources, mixed feeds, or single ingredients. However, as aquaculture becomes more intensive, environmental conditions tend to deteriorate. This leads to an increase in harmful substances like ammonia nitrogen, nitrite, and hydrogen sulfide, which result from the decomposition of uneaten feed and fish waste. These factors cause stress in fish, and high-density farming increases disease susceptibility and transmission.
Therefore, the role of vitamins goes beyond just supporting growth—they also play a crucial part in stress reduction and immune support. The vitamin content in feed is inversely related to the feed conversion ratio. For instance, if a feed has a conversion factor of 2, it should contain 2.5 times more vitamins than a feed with a conversion factor of 5. This ensures that fish receive the same amount of vitamins regardless of how much they eat. That’s why intensive farming systems often require additional vitamin supplementation.
The demand for vitamins in fish can be categorized into five levels: maintenance, immune enhancement, maximum growth, minimal satisfaction, and deficiency. Most commercial vitamin premixes only aim to meet the minimum requirement or support maximum growth. However, when fish face environmental stressors or pathogenic challenges, their immune system activates, consuming extra vitamins in the process. This can lead to indirect vitamin deficiencies.
In high-density farms with poor water quality, the need for vitamins is significantly higher. By increasing certain vitamins to immune-enhancing levels, farmers can help fish better cope with the negative effects of crowded conditions, promoting healthier and more sustainable aquaculture. However, excessive vitamin use can lead to waste and even toxicity, so it's important to find the right balance. Proper vitamin management is key to maintaining fish health and optimizing production in modern aquaculture systems.
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