Spirulina

Spirulina in fish diets: compare goldfish live-feed enrichment with koi pigment research, and understand why ingredient presence is not proof of product performance.

Ingredient Directory›Spirulina

Ingredient & nutrient profile

Spirulina

A nutrient and pigment source whose effects depend on how it is fed and what accompanies it.

Microbial IngredientFishGoldfishKoi
SP
SpirulinaNutritional role • Research • Practical context
SpeciesGoldfish and koi evidence
ScopeIngredient and nutrient context
AssessmentInitial evidence summary
Sources checked23 September 2026
Nutritional role

What it contributes

Spirulina is a biomass ingredient used in fish feeding, including to enrich live Artemia. The linked goldfish study assessed that enrichment route. It did not directly test a retail spirulina flake or pellet.

Species and formulation

Read it in context

The linked evidence covers goldfish and koi in freshwater laboratory tanks. The goldfish study tested enrichment through live Artemia; the koi study tested spirulina in formulated experimental diets. These are different feeding strategies.

Research

What the evidence shows

In Elshafey et al. (2023), 225 young goldfish received one of five feeding treatments for 90 days. Combined spirulina/canthaxanthin enrichment produced the highest final weight and favourable colour measures. Spirulina-only enrichment did not significantly improve final weight over the commercial-food control in Table 6. The combined result cannot be credited to spirulina alone. A separate eight-week koi experiment reported better growth and redness with a spirulina diet, but used only two tanks per treatment. Neither experiment tested the retail foods linked here.

Limits and safety

Before changing the diet

Colour intensity and blood markers do not prove overall health or protection from disease. The study does not establish a household supplement dose, lifelong adequacy or benefits for every fish species. Do not assume that adding powder to an existing food reproduces controlled live-feed enrichment.

Food labels

Questions worth asking

Ask whether a claim concerns spirulina itself, an enriched live feed or a finished food containing several pigment sources. Look for named ingredients, intended species and evidence for the actual formulation. Ingredient presence alone does not establish an effective amount or a health benefit.

Connected evidence

Explore the studies

The linked study identifies the fish species, feeding method and limits of the evidence.

Koi · 2014 · Controlled feeding trialSpirulina and pigment sources in koi: an eight-week feeding studyColour and growth findings, with only two tanks per diet.Goldfish · 2023 · Controlled feeding trialEnriched Artemia for goldfish: growth and colour in a 90-day trialRead the study summary, methods and limitations.
Sources

References and review scope

  1. Elshafey AE, Khalafalla MM, Abou Zaid AA, Mohamed RA, Abdel-Rahim MM. Source diversity of Artemia enrichment boosts goldfish (Carassius auratus) performance, β-carotene content, pigmentation, immune-physiological and transcriptomic responses. Scientific Reports. 2023;13:21801. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-48621-4.
  2. Kim YO, Lee SM. Effect of Dietary Carotenoids Sources on Growth and Skin Color of Red- and White-colored Fancy Carp Cyprinus carpio var. koi. Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 2014;47(6):790–795. doi:10.5657/KFAS.2014.0790.

This is an initial, source-linked overview, not a systematic review or a product endorsement. Study-specific access limitations are stated above.

Research on this ingredient

Goldfish

Spirulina and Bacillus licheniformis in goldfish diets

One study with 2 reviewed arm or dose connection(s).

Arm spirulina_2_5_percent

Spirulina and Bacillus licheniformis in goldfish diets

Direct · goldfish. 216 goldfish in 12 tanks; 18 fish per tank and three replicate tanks per diet.

Tested form: Spirulina platensis added to feed without the Bacillus supplement. Dose: 2.5% Spirulina platensis in feed (Spirulina percentage of feed; combined probiotic level measured in colony-forming units per gram feed). Duration: Not reported in reviewed abstract. Comparator: Unsupplemented control diet.

Measured finding: Growth did not differ between groups. Immune and gene-expression measures changed, and mortality after challenge was lower with supplementation; the reviewed abstract does not isolate all challenge outcomes by arm.

Limitations: Tank experiment and laboratory bacterial challenge. Probiotic species and combined formulation matter; strain and preparation details are not established in the reviewed abstract.

Abstract reviewed · Checked 2 October 2026 · Evidence.pet study summary · Primary source

Arm spirulina_plus_b_licheniformis

Spirulina and Bacillus licheniformis in goldfish diets

Multi ingredient · goldfish. 216 goldfish in 12 tanks; 18 fish per tank and three replicate tanks per diet.

Tested form: Feed containing Spirulina platensis plus Bacillus licheniformis. Dose: 2.5% Spirulina platensis plus 1 x 10^8 CFU/g Bacillus licheniformis (Spirulina percentage of feed; combined probiotic level measured in colony-forming units per gram feed). Duration: Not reported in reviewed abstract. Comparator: Unsupplemented control diet.

Measured finding: Growth did not differ between groups. Immune and gene-expression measures changed, and mortality after challenge was lower with supplementation; the reviewed abstract does not isolate all challenge outcomes by arm.

Limitations: Tank experiment and laboratory bacterial challenge. Probiotic species and combined formulation matter; strain and preparation details are not established in the reviewed abstract.

This ingredient was part of a combined formulation; the study does not isolate its contribution.

Abstract reviewed · Checked 2 October 2026 · Evidence.pet study summary · Primary source

Products listing or mentioning this ingredient

74 products linked through reviewed ingredient occurrences from manufacturer declarations or partial editorial summaries. Whole-label verification may remain pending. An ingredient’s presence alone does not establish a nutritional outcome.

  • Poppy's Picnic POWER BALLS Lamb Poppy's Picnic POWER BALLS Lamb - POWER BALLS Lamb; UK; manufacturer declaration Dog; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Poppy's Picnic POWER BALLS Wild Boar Poppy's Picnic POWER BALLS Wild Boar - POWER BALLS Wild Boar; UK; manufacturer declaration Dog; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Poppy's Picnic RAW POWER Beef Poppy's Picnic RAW POWER Beef - RAW POWER Beef; UK; manufacturer declaration Dog; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Poppy's Picnic RAW POWER Chicken Poppy's Picnic RAW POWER Chicken - RAW POWER Chicken; UK; manufacturer declaration Dog; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Poppy's Picnic RAW POWER Lamb Poppy's Picnic RAW POWER Lamb - RAW POWER Lamb; UK; manufacturer declaration Dog; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Poppy's Picnic RAW POWER Turkey Poppy's Picnic RAW POWER Turkey - RAW POWER Turkey; UK; manufacturer declaration Dog; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Poppy's Picnic RAW POWER Venison & Duck Poppy's Picnic RAW POWER Venison & Duck - RAW POWER Venison & Duck; UK; manufacturer declaration Dog; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Saki-Hikari Color Enhancing Saki-Hikari Color Enhancing, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; United States; partial summary Fish, Koi; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Saki-Hikari Fancy Goldfish Color Enhancing Saki-Hikari Fancy Goldfish Color Enhancing, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; United States; partial summary Fish, Goldfish; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Saki-Hikari Multi-Season Saki-Hikari Multi-Season, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; United States; partial summary Fish, Koi; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Salmon Medley Premium Dinner for Dogs Salmon Medley Premium Dinner for Dogs - Salmon Medley Premium Dinner for Dogs; United Kingdom; manufacturer declaration Dog; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Sera Betta Granules Sera Betta Granules, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; ; partial summary Bettas, Fish; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Sera Flora Flakes Sera Flora Flakes, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; ; partial summary Fish; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Sera Immune Probiotic Granules Sera Immune Probiotic Granules, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; ; partial summary Fish; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Sera Plankton Color Tabs Sera Plankton Color Tabs, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; ; partial summary Fish; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Sera San Color Flakes Sera San Color Flakes, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; ; partial summary Fish; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Sera San Color Granules Sera San Color Granules, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; ; partial summary Fish; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Sera Vipachips Wafers Sera Vipachips Wafers, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; ; partial summary Fish; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Sera Vipagran Granules Sera Vipagran Granules, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; ; partial summary Fish; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Sera Vipan Flakes Sera Vipan Flakes, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; ; partial summary Fish; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Skin & Coat Support - Aloe Vera & Spirulina Skin & Coat Support - Aloe Vera & Spirulina - Skin & Coat Support - Aloe Vera & Spirulina; United Kingdom; manufacturer declaration Dog; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Super Seaweed Snacks Super Seaweed Snacks - Super Seaweed Snacks; United Kingdom; manufacturer declaration Dog; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • TetraPRO Algae TetraPRO Algae, editorial ingredient summary 2026-09-24; UK; partial summary Fish; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
  • Wilsons Pet Food Wilsons Salmon Cold Pressed Dog Food Natural High Protein Omega 3 Nutrition Diet Wilsons Pet Food Wilsons Salmon Cold Pressed Dog Food Natural High Protein Omega 3 Nutrition Diet - Wilsons Pet Food Wilsons Salmon Cold Pressed Dog Food Natural High Protein Omega 3 Nutrition Diet; United Kingdom; manufacturer declaration Dog; Source data captured; Label verification pending; Evidence applicability requires the stated ingredient and study review scope
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