Comparative efficacy of clove oil and other chemicals in anaesthetization of Pomacentrus amboinensis, a coral reef fish

ABSTRACT

The efficacy of quinaldine, benzocaine, MS-222, 2-phenoxyethanol and clove oil was compared for anaesthetizing settlement stage Pomacentrus amboinensis, a frequently studied coral reef fish. Induction to anaesthesia, behaviour during anaesthesia, recovery times and survival rates of fish treated with the different chemicals were compared. Clove oil was only marginally less effective than quinaldine and was more effective than other chemicals tested, except at high concentrations. In addition, fish exposed to clove oil exhibited a much calmer induction to anaesthesia than fish exposed to quinaldine. Therefore, clove oil may be an effective alternative to quinaldine as a fish anaesthetic. Recovery time after anaesthesia with clove oil was two to three times longer than recovery from other chemicals, a desirable charcteristic for use in field studies. Survival rates were excellent for all chemicals.