Effects of Two Anesthetics on Water Quality during Simulated Transport of a Tropical Ornamental Fish, the Indian tiger barb Puntius filamentosus

Abstract

Trade in the Indian tiger barb Puntius filamentosus as an ornamental fish is gaining popularity, but growth of this trade is hindered by mortalities during transport. We studied the capability of two anesthetics, tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) at 40 mg/L and benzocaine at 20 mg/L, to reduce stress in fish during transport and thereby maintain water quality. Both anesthetics significantly (P , 0.05) slowed the deterioration in dissolved oxygen, total ammonia, carbon dioxide, and pH in the transport water. This was reflected in the cumulative mortality during simulated transportation, wherein the anesthetic-treated groups showed a significantly lower mortality rate (MS-222 group: 8.4%; benzocaine group: 9%) compared with the control group without anesthetic (15.3%). The study showed that the use of MS-222 and benzocaine in ornamental fish transportation reduces the deterioration in water quality and ensures a better transport environment and reduced stress for the fish, resulting in improved survival during transport.

Use of Clove, Mint and Camphor Essential Oils on Confinement of Clown Anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris (Cuvier 1830): Anesthetic Effects and Influence on Water Quality

“…According to Pramod, Sajeevan [12], elevated CO 2 concentrations reduce the capacity of hemoglobin to transport oxygen. Upon placing fish into an anesthetic solution, large amounts of mucus are secreted into the water and can accumulate in gills, thereby impairing gas exchange and consequently oxygen uptake.…”

Effects of Two Anesthetics on Survival of Juvenile Culter mongolicus during a Simulated Transport Experiment

“…The transportation of juveniles in closed polyethylene bags charged with oxygen is considered a simple and effective method, particularly for air travel, and this practice is widespread throughout the world (Berka 1986;Lim et al 2003). However, water quality generally deteriorates in this closed system due to fish respiration and excretion, pH and dissolved oxygen decreasing and *Corresponding author: yeshw@ihb.ac.cn Received December 21, 2011;accepted June 4, 2012 ammonia and un-ionized ammonia increasing (Guo et al 1995;Pramod et al 2010). Deterioration of water quality stresses the nervous, immunological, and hormonal systems of juvenile fishes, and it could cause mortality if it deteriorates beyond normal tolerance limits of fish (Urbinati et al 2004;Harmon 2009).…”

“…Anesthetics are widely used before and during transport to slow metabolism and reduce stress of fish (Harmon 2009;Pramod et al 2010). Anesthetics reduce the contractile force of the ventricular myocardium and alter gill haemodynamics (Hill et al 2002) by depressing neuronal activity (Späth and Schweickert 1977;Arnolds et al 2002) and preventing plasma cortisol elevation (Iversen et al 2003).…”

“…Levels of cortisol, glucose, and lactate in the blood return to normal within 6 h after sedation (Trushenski et al 2012). A number of anesthetics, including tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222), benzocaine, 2-phenoxyethanol, quinaldine sulphate, metomidate, and lidocaine have been used in juvenile fish transportation (Guo et al 1995;Park et al 2009;Pramod et al 2010). Among the broad spectrum of anesthetics, MS-222 appears to be used most frequently (Marking and Meyer 1985;Berka 1986).…”

“…Clove oil (major constituent eugenol: 2-methoxy-4-[2-propenyl] phenol), is another common fish anesthetic due to its efficacy, affordability, and short withdrawal period (Harper 2003). Although many studies have assessed the effects of anesthetics on ornamental fish transported in polyethylene bags (Teo et al 1989;Pramod et al 2010) and on low-density transportation of cultivated juvenile fish (Guo et al 1995), the effects of anesthetics on juvenile survival and water quality during high-density transport in polyethylene bags are not well studied.…”