If need to sedate your fish, Jambu (Spilanthes acmella) or Lippia alba may be an option
Posted: 22 Apr 2016, 23:26
Barbasa, LAL, Stringhetta, GR, Garcia, LO, Figueiredo, MRC, & Sampaio, LA. 2016. Jambu, Spilanthes acmella as a novel anaesthetic for juvenile tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum: Secondary stress responses during recovery. Aquaculture, 456, pp. 70–75. doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2016.01.026
Personally, I rely on benzocaine. But if you don't have access to benzocaine, I know some of you have used plant extracts before; here's one more potential "tool" for your "toolbox."
Barbasa et al. wrote:ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the waxy extract of jambu flowers, Spilanthes acmella as an anaesthetic for fish, using juvenile tambaqui as a model. The times to induction and recovery after short-term anaesthesia were evaluated by concentration-response trials and secondary stress responses. Juveniles were placed in aquaria containing five different concentrations of jambu extract (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mg L−1) and the times of anaesthetic induction and recovery were determined. Sham control fish and fish exposed to ethanol-added water were used as controls. The secondary stress responses of fish following anaesthesia with jambu extract (20 mg L− 1) were investigated through an assessment of whole blood variables: glucose, ions (Na+, K+, and Ca++), osmolality, haematocrit (Htc), haemoglobin (Hb), partial pressures of CO2 (pCO2) and O2 (pO2), bicarbonate concentration (HCO3−), and pH. Deep anaesthesia was observed at all concentrations tested in this study. The use of 20 mg L− 1 of this extract is recommended for rapid induction (< 3 min) and uneventful recovery (< 5 min) from deep anaesthesia; while the concentration of 2 mg L− 1 is sufficient to promote sedation. Only transient changes in secondary stress responses were observed in tambaqui during recovery, with most parameters returning to initial values within 48 h post-anaesthesia. Therefore, the extract of jambu flowers may be considered an efficient anaesthetic for tambaqui and other fish species.
- Highlights:
- This is the first report of jambu extract being used as an anaesthetic for fish.
- All concentrations tested (5–25 mg L−1) induced deep anaesthesia and uneventful recovery in juvenile tambaqui.
- Only transient physiological changes were observed in blood during recovery.
Keywords: Sedation; Brazil cress; Plant extract; Spilanthol; Blood parameters
KeyWords Plus: Salmon ; ; ; tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222); Ocimium gratissimum; essential oils; ; Lippia alba; clove oil; euglenol
Personally, I rely on benzocaine. But if you don't have access to benzocaine, I know some of you have used plant extracts before; here's one more potential "tool" for your "toolbox."
