The effect of lobster meal on the growth performance and pigmentation of the common goldfish (Carassius auratus)

•Lobster meal (LM) is a byproduct of the lobster processing industry.•LM could be used as a natural source of pigment in fish feeds.•Common Goldfish were fed up to 15% LM.•Growth performance, whole body composition, and skin pigmentation were similar in goldfish fed 15% LM and the control diet.•LM could be used to replace synthetic pigments in diets for ornamental fish. This study evaluated lobster meal (LM) as a source of carotenoids and protein in diets for the Common Goldfish (Carassius auratus). Fish were fed four experimental diets which included up to 15% LM. After 8 weeks, there were no significant differences among treatments in terms of weight gain, condition factor, specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Lobster meal inclusion had no significant effect on whole body composition. Although, there were no significant differences in growth across all treatments, fish gained >350% with an SGR between 2.5–3.7 and an average FCR of 1.8. There were no treatment differences in pigmentation of the fish, but the lightness, redness and yellowness scores did increase after the duration of the trial. LM could be used as a source of pigment and protein, and could reduce the need for synthetic carotenoids in commercial fish feeds.