An investigation of live or freshly prepared feeds used as 'maturation' diets for freshwater ornamental fish was conducted to uncover similarities or differences in total and essential fatty acids. Analysis of these 'maturation' feeds reveals that there are relatively low levels of total fatty acids (0.81-8.96 mg/100 mg(-1) dry weight) and with the exception of the beef heart diet all other feeds have undetectable levels of docosahexaenoate (22:6n3). The beef heart diet was observed to possess 4.86 mg 100 mg(-1) dry weight of 22:6n3 most probably due to the addition of skipjack tuna, Katsuwanus pelamis, roe. All other feeds examined were found to contain low to moderate levels of eicosapentaenoate (20:5n3) 0.00-0.61 mg/100 mg(-1) dry weight. Surprisingly relatively high amounts of arachidonate (20:4n6) 0.16- 0.90 mg/100 mg(-1) dry weight were observed in all of the maturation diets and ranged between 3.79%-27.16% on a percent composition basis. The results obtained to date indicate a need to scrutinize the role of arachidonate in the maturation and spawning process.
(Univ. Hawaii Manoa, Sch. Ocean and Earth Sci. and Technol., Dept. Land and Nat. Resources, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)
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