EFFECT OF SODIUM FLUORIDE ON BODY WEIGHT GAIN ANDGONADOSOMATIC INDEX IN FRESHWATER CATFISHES

Present investigation was undertaken to examine the toxic effects of different doses of sodium fluoride on body weight gain and gonadosomatic index (GSI) in freshwater catfishes Heteropneustes fossilis and Clarias batrachus during different phases of their annual reproductive cycle. Following acclimation 40 fishes of both species were divided into four groups i.e., Group I (control), Group II (1.5mg/L NaF), Group III (2.5mg/L NaF) and Group IV (3.5mg/L NaF). Experiment was continued for 30 days. After completion of experiment body weight gain and gonadosomatic index were computed. Results of ANOVA revealed a statistically significant effect of different doses of sodium fluoride on body weight gain and gonadosomatic index in both species, i.e., Clarias batrachus and Heteropneustes fossilis, irrespective of phase of annual reproductive cycle. It has also been noticed that as the concentration of sodium fluoride increases body weight gain was decreased. Further, in both Clarias batrachus and Heteropneustes fossilis male and female GSI were found to decline in most of the groups maintained in different concentrations of sodium fluoride as compared to control group.