Summary The aim of this study was to evaluate the anaesthetic efficacy and the effect of sedation with tricaine (TMS®), also known as MS‐222, on secondary and oxidative stress parameters in juvenile tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum transported in hyperoxia for 2, 6 and 10 hr. Juveniles were placed in aquaria containing six different concentrations of buffered tricaine (150, 180, 210, 240, 270 and 300 mg/L) and the times for anaesthesia induction and recovery determined. Fish transported in hyperoxic conditions were investigated for glycemia, ionic concentration (K+, Ca++, Na+) and osmolality, haematocrit (Ht) and haemoglobin concentration (Hb), partial pressure of gases (pCO2 and pO2), pH and bicarbonate concentration (HCO3−) in whole blood collected from caudal vasculature. Total antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP), glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) activity and lipid peroxidation levels (TBARS) were investigated in gills, brain and liver. All concentrations of TMS® induced deep anaesthesia in juvenile tambaqui in this study. A concentration of 240 mg/L of TMS® was sufficient to induce rapid anaesthesia (<3 min) with uneventful recovery (<5 min). In light of the secondary and oxidative stress responses of fish transported using TMS®, which were generally not significantly different compared to responses of fish transported in anaesthetic‐free water, sedation with 20 mg/L is not advantageous and therefore is dispensable for the transport of this species for up to 10 hr.

The aim of this study was to investigate a suitable packing density for the transport of juvenile dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus, based on the evaluation of stress responses in blood. After acclimation, fish were placed in plastic bags and transported for 8 hr on paved road at densities of 28, 45 and 64 g/L. Water quality was monitored before and after transport. Blood was collected before, upon arrival (0 hr), after 2 and 24 hr of transport. Plasma cortisol, blood glucose, partial pressures of O2 (pO2) and CO2 (pCO2), blood pH and HCO3− were evaluated. Blood smears were prepared for the verification of leucocyte profile and neutrophils:lymphocyte ratio (N:L). Blood pCO2, pH and HCO3− increased significantly after transport for all treatments compared with pre‐transport. Glucose levels increased at the higher density whereas no effects were observed on plasma cortisol and pO2 levels. Upon arrival, all treatments showed lymphopenia and neutrophilia which increased N:L ratio. Although lymphopenia was observed in higher densities until 2 hr after transport, haematological parameters were fully restored within 24 hr post transport. Furthermore, no mortalities were observed throughout the experimental period. Based on the transient physiological changes observed in this study, juvenile dusky grouper can be safely transported in plastic bags for 8 hr at a density of up to 64 g/L.