Fish have a unique position with respect to their taxonomic and phylogenic status among vertebrates and occupy an important place in vertebrate’s genealogy. Most fish are ectothermic ("cold-blooded"), allowing their body temperatures to vary (1 – 2 ºC) as ambient temperatures change. Majority of siluroid fish are economically important for human consumption. Protein and vitamins content in fish flesh varies from high to moderate and make it as rich source of protein diet. Fishes of siluroid order ranges from freshwater to brackish waster to swamps and marshes both in temperate and tropical regions. The freshwater catfish, Clarias batrachus from siluroid order is a native specie of tropical south-east Asia and commonly known as “Magru” in India
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Whereas adequate food intake leads to proper growth and augment the survival of a fish. However, survival, food intake and growth can be affected by the pollutants present in the aquatic ecosystem. With the increase in use of silver nanoparticles, it is more likely to disperse in water bodies via discharge from household, textile and food industries. Due to the nanosize (1 – 100 nm) it can easily penetrate the skin, tissues and organs of a fish. The route of exposure to fish can be via gills, skin or ingested water and/or food. The poor food intake can lead to retarded growth and/or malfunction/formation of organs and also result in mortality by starvation and toxicity induced by silver nanoparticles. The increase in concentration of nanoparticles can also lead to nervous system disorder, cytotoxicity and necrosis which eventually lead to mortality and poor growth rate. So far no information exists about the toxic effects of silver nanoparticles on survival, growth and feed intake in fingerlings of freshwater catfishes. Since walking catfish is an important medicinal food fish in Asia, it was decided to study the effects of silver nanoparticles on survival, growth and feed intake in fingerlings of the freshwater catfish (Clarias batrachus). It is important to study the effects of nanoparticles in fry and fingerlings of a fish because they are more sensitive toward toxicants as their biomasses are less and have lesser detoxification capacity in comparison to adult
Whereas adequate food intake leads to proper growth and augment the survival of a fish. However, survival, food intake and growth can be affected by the pollutants present in the aquatic ecosystem. With the increase in use of silver nanoparticles, it is more likely to disperse in water bodies via discharge from household, textile and food industries. Due to the nanosize (1 – 100 nm) it can easily penetrate the skin, tissues and organs of a fish. The route of exposure to fish can be via gills, skin or ingested water and/or food. The poor food intake can lead to retarded growth and/or malfunction/formation of organs and also result in mortality by starvation and toxicity induced by silver nanoparticles. The increase in concentration of nanoparticles can also lead to nervous system disorder, cytotoxicity and necrosis which eventually lead to mortality and poor growth rate. So far no information exists about the toxic effects of silver nanoparticles on survival, growth and feed intake in fingerlings of freshwater catfishes. Since walking catfish is an important medicinal food fish in Asia, it was decided to study the effects of silver nanoparticles on survival, growth and feed intake in fingerlings of the freshwater catfish (Clarias batrachus). It is important to study the effects of nanoparticles in fry and fingerlings of a fish because they are more sensitive toward toxicants as their biomasses are less and have lesser detoxification capacity in comparison to adult