Abstract

This study investigated the effect of detergent containing linear alkyl benzene sulphonate on behavioural response of Heterobranchus bidorsalis, Clarias gariepinus and Heteroclarias. Fish samples were purchased from private fish farm in Delta state. The fish were allowed to acclimatize for 3 days in the laboratory. Based on the result of range finding test, main experimental set-up was carried out at 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250ppm of the toxicant in a renewed bioassay. Results showed increased body pigmentation, surfacing and air gulping and intermittent swarming, jerky movement increases as the concentration of the toxicant increases, and decline in opercula movement decreases as the concentration of the detergents increases. This suggests toxicological stress on the test organisms. As such, caution should be exercised in the use of detergents in aquatic ecosystems.