Abstract
M.Sc.
This study was initiated after a clear need to test and establish a more userfriendly
fish species for use in routine laboratory bioassays was identified.
This led to a literature review of current toxicity testing species of fish being
used, internationally as well as nationally, and identifying which species could
possibly be the most suited for use in South African laboratories. From this
literature review, it was evident that much emphasis is placed on the
practicability of the chosen fish species, and the fact that it can easily be bred
within the laboratory, as well as the particular fish specie’s general sensitivity
to various toxicants over a wide range of concentrations. The objective of this
study is therefore to profile various species of fish to determine which species
would be most suited to routine toxicity testing under South African laboratory
conditions. This will be done through assimilation of available literature as
well as personal communications with people with various expertise and
experience in working with the particular fish species. This choice will then be
based on the ability of the particular species of fish to ‘balance’ amenability to
laboratory conditions with general sensitivity to toxicants. Various indigenous
as well as exotic species were therefore selected and tested for suitability for
routine testing. Exotic species included Poecilia reticulata and Danio rerio,
while the indigenous species tested were Barbus trimaculatus, Barbus
argenteus, Tilapia sparrmanii, Oreochromis mossambicus and
Pseudocrenilabrus philander philander. Breeding experiments were
conducted with all of the abovementioned species and, based on these
results; recommendations are made as to which species of fish showed the
highest degree of amenability to maintenance within the laboratory.