Investigation of acute toxicity and the effect of cadmium chloride (CdCl2 · H2O) metal salt on behavior of the guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

In this study 96-h LC50 value of cadmium chloride (CdCl2 · H2O), a metal salt widely used in industry, was determined for the guppy (Poecilia reticulata, Pallas, 1859). The experiments were planned in four series of a total of 440 guppies employing the static test method of acute toxicity. 10 fish were placed in each replicate of each dose. The experiments were performed as four replicates, and behavioral changes in the guppy were determined for each cadmium chloride metal salt concentration. The data obtained were statistically evaluated by the use of EPA computer program based on Finneyʹs Probit Analysis Method and a 96-h LC50 value for P. reticulata was found to be 30.4 mg/l in a static bioassay test system. This value was estimated to be 30.6 mg/l with Behrens–Karberʹs method. The two methods were in good agreement. 95% lower and upper confidence limits for the LC50 were 29.3 and 31.7 mg/l, respectively. The water temperature was kept between 21 and 23 °C. The behavioral changes observed in fish were, swimming in imbalanced manner, capsizing, attaching to the surface, difficulty in breathing and gathering around the ventilation filter.