Toxic and Growth Effects of Ag-TiO₂ Nanoparticles on Etroplus suratensis Fingerlings with Statistical Application

Silver-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Ag-TiO₂ NPs) are widely used and increasingly released into aquatic environments, raising concerns about their ecological impacts. This study evaluated the effects of dietary Ag-TiO₂ nanoparticle exposure on the growth performance of Etroplus suratensis fingerlings. Fish were fed diets supplemented with Ag-TiO₂ nanoparticles at concentrations of 1, 10, 100, and 1000 mg kg⁻¹ for 12 weeks under controlled water quality conditions. Acute toxicity (LC₅₀) tests revealed concentration-dependent mortality, with the highest mortality (24% within 96 h) observed at 1000 mg kg⁻¹. Growth performance, assessed through length and weight measurements, exhibited a clear concentration and time-dependent response. The 10 mg kg⁻¹ treatment group showed the highest percentage weight gain (134.24%) and final biomass (34.01 g), indicating an optimal growth response. One-way ANOVA confirmed significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a strong positive relationship between weight gain and biomass, while mortality was negatively correlated. Principal component analysis identified weight gain and biomass as major contributors to PC1, whereas mortality dominated PC2. Cluster analysis further highlighted the adverse effects of higher Ag-TiO₂ concentrations. Overall, the findings demonstrate that Ag-TiO₂ nanoparticles exert concentration-dependent effects on Etroplus suratensis, with prolonged exposure to higher concentrations impairing growth and survival, indicating potential ecological risks in nanoparticle-contaminated aquatic ecosystems.