Description
A low-loading dispersible powder format of synthetic astaxanthin, typically 2 to 5 percent active on a carrier such as silica or maltodextrin. Used in applications where the 10 percent CWS beadlet over-concentrates the active for accurate dosing in small batch sizes, including ornamental fish flake feed, broodstock specialty feed, and laboratory feed trials.
Free-flowing pink to brick-red powder. The lower loading enables uniform mixing into small finished feed batches without sub-sampling error, and the silica or maltodextrin carrier supports premix flow properties. Some grades use cellulose or rice bran as the carrier for clean-label positioning.
We supply feed-grade Astaxanthin Powder from manufacturers in China holding ISO, FAMI-QS, Halal, Kosher and other certifications relevant to the product and production.
Common market grades include 2 percent Astaxanthin Powder on silica (the most common grade for ornamental fish feed), 5 percent on maltodextrin for broodstock and specialty aquaculture, 1 percent on cellulose for laboratory feed studies, and Natural Astaxanthin Powder from Haematococcus pluvialis at 1 to 5 percent active (supplied as a separate premium product).
Bulk and reduced-MOQ shipments. Batch-level COA covering astaxanthin content by HPLC, all-trans isomer ratio, carrier, and microbiology.
Introduction
Low-loading astaxanthin powder formats developed alongside CWS beadlets and oil oleoresins to fill specific commercial use cases where the higher-loading formats are inconvenient. The principal driver is dosing accuracy in small batches: a 100 kg ornamental fish flake-feed batch at 50 mg per kg target astaxanthin requires 50 grams of 10 percent CWS but 250 grams of 2 percent powder, and the lower scaling factor produces meaningfully better mixing uniformity at small scale.
The carrier choice has practical consequences. Silica provides excellent flow and dispersion but contributes inert ash to finished feed. Maltodextrin and starch carriers are nutritionally inert in a different sense (digestible carbohydrate) and produce slightly hygroscopic powders. Cellulose carriers are preferred for laboratory feed where clean dietary background is required.
Functional performance per milligram of active astaxanthin is identical across the powder, CWS, and oil formats, with the exception of process retention through high-temperature extrusion, where CWS beadlets perform substantially better than non-encapsulated powder.
Inclusion rates depend on the application: 20 to 50 grams active per tonne in ornamental fish feed, 50 to 100 grams active per tonne in koi conditioning feed, and 80 to 150 grams active per tonne in broodstock feed.
Where it is used
- Ornamental tropical fish (discus, angel, cichlid) flake and granule feed
- Koi and goldfish color-enhancement feed
- Shrimp and salmon broodstock specialty feed where small batch dosing is required
- Hatchery and larval feed for marine species
- Laboratory aquaculture feed trials with precise pigment dosing
- Premium aquarium fish food for retail bottling in small pack sizes
- Show koi conditioning feed for competition coloration
- Pet bird color-enhancement feed (canaries, finches, flamingos in zoo nutrition)
Technical data
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Pink to brick-red free-flowing powder |
| Astaxanthin content (HPLC) | 2.0% or 5.0% w/w per grade |
| Carrier | Silica, maltodextrin, or cellulose per grade |
| All-trans isomer ratio | ≥ 90.0% |
| Loss on drying | ≤ 6.0% |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 mg/kg |
| Arsenic | ≤ 2 mg/kg |
| Peroxide value | ≤ 10 meq/kg |
| Total plate count | ≤ 1,000 cfu/g |
| E. coli and Salmonella | Negative |
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