Vitamins comprise organic substances that are essential for the metabolism of organisms. Fish can synthesize some of these substances themselves, while others must be obtained from external sources. The feed industry adds vitamin and mineral mixtures to complete feeds, which are tailored to the needs of carp and are added by most manufacturers in nearly identical concentrations.
Fish are able to absorb a wide variety of minerals through their skin and gills. Minerals such as sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium (K), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), and iodine (I) are among the major and trace elements.
One substance often used by feed manufacturers is montmorillonite. Montmorillonite is a clay mineral intended to mimic the minerals found in Japanese mud ponds. It is hoped that this clay mineral will result in healthier fish with more vibrant colors. Little is known about its mechanism of action.
The two most prominent theories suggest improved mineral supply and/or the elimination of toxins, thereby relieving the burden on the organism. This allows the fish to invest more energy in color development. Currently, several studies exist in this area, but none have yet yielded conclusive results.
Scientific sources:
No reliable results have been published on this topic yet.
