TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF SUBLETHAL CONCENTRATIONS OF SNIPER 1000EC ON GROWTH OF Clarias gariepinus (BURCHELL, 1822) UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS
Abubakar, M.I.1 and Abdulsalami, S.A.2
1Department of Biology, College of Education, Zuba, Abuja, Nigeria
2Department of Biological Sciences, Crescent University, Sapon, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
E-mail: a.midiog@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Indiscriminate use of Sniper 1000EC has become a serious problem among local fishermen in the Northern parts of Niger state. Juveniles of Clarias gariepinus (19.47 ± 1.05; mean standard length, 20.00 ± 0.45cm) were subjected to 5 sublethal treatment levels of 0.00, 0.27, 0.31, 0.41 and 0.55mg/l. There was no significant difference between water quality parameters of the exposed and control groups. A 56 days exposure to sublethal concentrations of the toxicant led to a significant decrease (p<0.05) in specific and relative growth rate in the exposed fish species in comparison with their controls. Change in weight and length decreases with increasing in sublethal concentrations of sniper 1000EC. It is concluded that depressive growth rate in the exposed fish species were consequences of exposure to the toxicant (sniper 1000EC). It is recommended that the use of Sniper 1000EC by local fishermen be banned to save the aquatic environment from destruction.