Effect of ambient copper on the immune, antioxidant and lipid peroxidation parameters of Fenneropenaeus indicus and its susceptibility to white spot syndrome virus under heavy metal (Cu 2? ) exposure has been studied. Adult shrimps were acclimated to 25% salinity for a period of 7 days, and after 12 h of starvation, shrimps were dosed with 0.075, 0.150, 0.225 and 0.30 ppm Cu 2? by adding appropriate quantities of copper sulphate solution. After 14 days of metal exposure, the shrimps were challenged with white spot syndrome virus through oral administration and the immune and antioxidant parameters were analysed. Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences (P \ 0.05) in the immune and antioxidant parameters and lipid peroxidation product in different treatment groups of F. indicus compared to untreated group. The immune parameters and antioxidant enzymes have been significantly lowered (P \ 0.05) in the haemolymph of shrimps dosed with higher concentrations of copper sulphate leading to lipid peroxidation and accumulation of malondialdehyde. However, there was less oxidative stress in shrimps exposed to 0.075 ppm Cu 2? . The present study showed that high levels of Cu 2? enhanced the mortality of F. indicus with concomitant reduction in immune and antioxidant parameters. A concentration of 0.075 ppm Cu 2? in the rearing water was found to have beneficial effect in shrimps in terms of immunostimulation and higher survival against WSSV infection. This can be adopted as a pharmacological approach towards shrimp health management in culture systems.