Essential Oils From Cymbopogon Citratus and Lippia Sidoides in the Anesthetic Induction and Transport of Ornamental Fish Pterophyllum Scalare

Abstract

This study verified the effects of essential oils from Lippia sidoides (EOLS) and Cymbopogon citratus (EOCC) on the anesthesia of freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) of two different sizes (juveniles I (0.82 g) and II (2.40 g)) and on the transport (8 h) of juveniles II. Fish were exposed to different concentrations of EOLS and EOCC: 0, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mg L−1. Ventilatory rate (VR) and transport for 8 h with 0, 10, and 15 mg L−1 of each essential oil were evaluated in juveniles II. The major components found in EOLS and EOCC were carvacrol (44.50%) and a-citral (73.56%), respectively. The best sedation and anesthesia times for both essential oils were obtained with 10 and 25 mg L−1 and 200 and 250 mg L−1 for juveniles I and II, respectively. Fish sedated with EOLS had lower VR values than the other treatments. For transported fish, blood glucose levels were higher in ornamental fish transported with 10 and 15 mg EOLS L−1 and 15 mg EOCC L−1. Hepatic glycogen values were higher in the control group. In general, fish transported with 10 mg EOLS L−1 showed fewer gill histological alterations than other transported fish. When the type of lesion was evaluated, the highest gill alterations occurred in fish transported with EOCC. In conclusion, for the transport of juveniles II, 10 mg EOLS L−1 could be used because although this concentration increased blood glucose, it decreased the VR and caused only mild alterations to the gills.