Acute Toxicity of a Pesticide Cidial to an Exotic Fish Tilapia mossambica

Investigation on the toxic effects of a pesticide cidial on an exotic fish Tilapia mossambica at 22 ± 0.15°C was made. Toxicity tests were carried out to estimate LC₀, LC₅₀ and LC₁₀₀ values of cidial by exposing the fish for different durations. Six ppm of the pesticide formed LC₅₀/96 hrs, whereas 1.5 ppm and 8 ppm represented LC₀ and LC₁₀₀/96 hrs values respectively. Some remarkable changes in behavioural response of the fish in the toxic media were also observed such as hyperexcitability, abnormal changes in position, rapid opercular movement, frequent jumping, loss of equilibrium, etc. and finally death, showing acute toxic nature of the pesticide.