Carbaryl, a carbamate pesticide, (LC₅₀ 15.08 mg/l for 96 hr, i. e. lethal concentration with 50% mortality) induced perturbations in the levels of certain biochemical components including the activities of some enzymes in the blood and liver of the fresh-water catfish, Clarias batrachus exposed to sublethal concentrations (1, 2 and 4 mg/l) of the pesticide for 96 hr and 15 days. The pesticide caused a decrease in the levels of total protein and glucose with a concomitant increase in the levels of inorganic phosphate and lactic acid in fish serum. However, very little change was recorded in the serum cholesterol level. The treatment of the fish with carbaryl led to a marked increase in the activities of transaminases (GOT and GPT), phosphatases (acid and alkaline) and lactate dehydrogenase in the fish serum, the magnitude of the effect being dependent on the pesticide concentration and duration of exposure. The increase in lactic acid concentration with subsequent decrease in glucose concentration indicates an enhanced rate of glycolysis due to pesticide stress. Furthermore, the significant decrease in the activity of fish liver succinate dehydrogenase suggests that anaerobic metabolism was favored over aerobic oxidation of glucose through Kreb's cycle in order to mitigate the energy crisis for survival. The rise in the activities of transaminases and acid phosphatase due to pesticide intoxication suggest enhanced protein catabolism and probable hepatocellular damage in the organism.