EFFECT AND OF SUBLETHAL CONCENTRATIONS OF CADMIUM ON FOOD-INTAKE, GROWTH AND DIGESTIBILITY IN THE GOLD FISH, CARASSIUS-AURATUS L

Effects of three sub-lethal levels of cadmium (50 ugl(-1), 150 ugl(-1) and 300 ugl(-1)) on food intake, food utilization and digestibility i n goldfish, Carassius auratus over a 40 day experimental period were i nvestigated. The daily intake varied in all treatments, and the mean i ntake per fish per day differed significantly between treatments. Perf ormance parameters such as specific growth rate (SGR) food conversion ratio (FCR) were negatively affected with increasing cadmium concentra tion. For example in 300 ugl(-1) concentration fish lost weight and th e % SGR was negative. There were indications that as the exposure time to cadmium is lengthened, dry matter and protein digestibilities are also affected.