<b>Benzocaine and eugenol as anesthetics for <i>Brycon hilarii</i></b> - doi: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v35i2.16644

Resumo

Anesthetic products are frequently employed during fish handling practices; however, the correct
doses of the various chemicals for different species are still unknown. This study determined the ideal
concentrations of benzocaine and eugenol as anesthetics used in Brycon hilarii juveniles. The fish were acquired
from a commercial fish farm located in western Paraná state, Brazil, totaling 104 juveniles, with average body
weight and length of 50.04 ± 20.80 g and 16.30 ± 12.32 cm respectively. The study was carried out at the
Aquiculture Laboratory from the Aquaculture Management Study Group - GEMAq at the West Parana State
University. Five benzocaine concentrations (50.0, 100.0, 150.0, 200.0 and 250.0 mg L-1) and seven eugenol
concentrations (50.0, 100.0, 150.0, 200.0, 250.0, 300.0 and 350 mg L-1) were evaluated in order to assess the
induction time to anesthesia. The fish were transferred to anesthetic-free tanks to recover, and the time needed to
return to normal activity was recorded. The best results were observed with the benzocaine dose of 100 mg L-1
and the eugenol dose between 100 and 150 mg L-1.