THE JOURNAL OF TROPICAL LIFE SCIENCE OPEN ACCESS Freely available online VOL. 6, NO. 3, pp. 155 - 159, September 2016 Submitted January 2016; Revised May 2016; Accepted August 2016 Copper Toxicity of Four Different Aquaculture Ponds Moshod Keke Mustapha*, Joshua Taiwo Agunloye Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria ABSTRACT Copper is a nutritional trace element for fish which could be deficient or toxic. Copper concentrations from four aquaculture ponds were analyzed for 12 weeks using Bicinchoninate method. Alkalinity was measured using col- orimetric method with the aid of Hanna Multiparameter Bench Photometer. Temperature and pH of the ponds was measured in situ using Hanna Portable pH/EC/TDS/Temp combined waterproof tester. All measurements were done I triplicates. Copper concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 0.10 mg/L, alkalinity ranged from 105 to 245mg/L. Weeks 1 and 12 recorded the highest and lowest Cu 2+ concentrations, while lowest and highest alkalinity were obtained in weeks 1 and 12 respectively in all the ponds. Temperature and pH ranged from 29.1 to 35.9°C and 6.35 to 8.03. The trend of copper concentrations in the ponds was Natural > Earthen > Concrete > Collapsi- ble, with concentration slightly above the normal in the ponds. This could have come from the pipes used in de- livering water to the pond, copper alloy nets and mesh used in the ponds, anti-fouling agents, algaecides, water source and fish meal. Effect of elevated copper was seen in the morphology and behavior of Clarias gariepinus which include slimy mucus on the skin, aggressive and uncoordinated swimming with the opercula flared, slow growth, reduced odor perception of food and water bubbles on the ponds. Copper should be regularly bio moni- tored to determine toxicity in fish. Keywords: Fish, alkalinity, pH, toxic, management Copper (Cu 2+ ) is an essential nutritional trace ele- ments required by fish in minute quantity. Wild fish obtain their dietary copper requirements from the wa- ter they inhabit and the diet they feed on. The concen- trations of copper, its sources and effects in the wild fish habitat and on wild fish population have been by extensively reviewed by [1]. The concentrations of copper in water are depen- dent on pH, temperature, alkalinity, bicarbonate, sul- fide, and organic ligands [2]. Copper is among the most toxic of the heavy metals in freshwater and ma- rine biota [3], and often accumulates and causes irre- versible harm to some fish species at concentrations just above levels required for growth and reproduction [4]. The effects of low and high dietary levels of copper in fish have been highlighted by [5, 6]. Studies on copper concentrations in aqua cultural ponds is essential in aquaculture due to the fact that copper is a trace element required in minute quantity in fish production and anthropogenic contamination of the element in aquaculture tanks and ponds is mini- mal. Many factors can however introduce copper to aquaculture ponds which could be deleterious to the fish and water quality. These include copper-contain- ing pipes used in delivering water to the pond, copper alloy nets used in harvest, copper alloy mesh used for pen aquaculture, anti-fouling agents containing copper compounds used in controlling organisms that impair the flow of water, algaecides and parasiticides contain- ing copper compounds used in killing alga and para- sites, pond water source and fish meal for feeding the fish. In spite that copper is needed in minute quantity in fish and its introduction to aquaculture water is im- plausible, its deficiency or toxicity can occur when the JTLS | J. Trop. Life. Science 155 Volume 6 | Number 3 | September| 2016 INTRODUCTION *Corresponding author: Mustapha, M.K Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin TEC, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria 240003 E-mail: kmoshood@unilorin.edu.ng doi: 10.11594/jtls.06.03.04 How to cite: Mustapha MK, Agunloye JT (2016) Copper toxicity of four different aquaculture ponds. J. Trop. Life. Science 6 (3): 155 - 159.