Microbiological and Physicochemical Properties of Effluents (Waste) From Fish Farm

Rearing catfish is very common in many communities in Nigeria and the wastewater from these fish ponds are often discharged into the surrounding drains. Assessment of the antimicrobial and physicochemical characteristics of three fish farms stocked with African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was conducted using standard microbiological techniques. The results of physicochemical properties of the water samples showed that the pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, total dissolved solid, calcium ranged from 5.8 – 5.81, 123 µ/cm – 130 µ/cm, 4.8 mg/l – 6 mg/l, 3 mg/l -5 mg/l, 330 mg/l – 500 mg/l, 19.34 mg/l – 32.3 mg/l respectively. The total bacterial count, total coliform, and fungal count of the wastewater ranged from 6.5 x 105 – 7.4 x 105cfu/ml, 2 x 105 – 3.3 x 105 cfu/ml, and 1.9 x 105 – 2.11 x 105cfu/ml respectively. Some bacterial species isolated from the ponds were Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Salmonella sp., and some fungi includes Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., and Cladosporium sp. It can be concluded from this study that there is need to monitor the quality of wastewater from the fish ponds before being discharged into the environment since potential pathogens were isolated. Good quality water such as well or borehole should be used in the fish pond rather than water from questionable sources such as river, stream and surface runoff. The fish feed should be sourced from reputable manufacturers and water from the pond changed regularly.