WRRCTR No.40 Relative Toxicities of Selected Chemicals to Several Species of Tropical Fish

Abstract

This study determined the 24, 48, 96-hour median tolerance limit of phenol, DDT, dieldrin, and lindane of five species of fish commonly found in streams and estuaries in semi-tropical areas. They are: (i) Gambusia affinis - mosquito fish, (ii) Lebistes reticulatus -guppies, (iii) Tilapia mossambica - tilapia, (iv) Kuhlia sandvicensis - aholehole, and (v) Stolephorus purpureus - nehu. Of the five species, Gambusia affinis had the highest tolerance to the toxic agents used in this study. Lebistes reticulatus and Tilapia mossambica had approximately the same sensitivity to DDT as well as dieldrin and lindane. Lebistes reticulatus had a higher sensitivity to phenol than Tilapia mossambica. Although Stolephorus purpureus, nehu, was highly sensitive, Kuhlia sandvicensis was most sensitive to all toxic agents used.