Hazardous effect of ZnS nanoparticles on the feeding behaviour, growth and maturation process of the Asian striped catfish, Mystus vittatus (Bloch, 1794)

The Asian striped catfish Mystus vittatus (Bloch) are exposed to ZnS nanoparticles of different concentrations and its impact on feeding behaviour, growth and maturity of the fish is studied. The study reveals the fact that under nanoparticle exposure, the feeding behaviour, growth and maturation stages depart from that of the controlled conditions. The growth is found to be restricted with increasing nanoparticle concentration. Gonadal maturity has also found to be constrained with increasing nanoparticle concentrations up to a certain level. These effects are found to be more pronounced for nanoparticles of smaller sizes. The observations are explained on the basis of the enhanced photo-oxidation property of the ZnS nanoparticles.