Anaesthesia in river Catfish (Mystus nemurus)

The aim of this study was to investigate the minimum effective concentration of clove oil as anaesthetic agent for the in River Catfish (Mystyus nemurus). Two different concentrations of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) oil were applied on river catfish. Three fish with average weight 398.33 ± 42.52 g were exposed to 25 and 50 ppm of clove oil. Exposure and recovery time of anaesthesia test and the dosage per weight recorded. The results were found exposure for 25 ppm was 0.147± 0.0037 seconds per grams, for 50 ppm 0.091±0.0087 seconds per grams. For the recovery of 25 ppm clove oil 0.188 ± 0.008 seconds per grams were obtained. 0.929 ± 0.118 seconds per grams recorded for recovery 50 ppm of clove oil. Recovery of anaesthesia in Mystus nemurus were significantly increased when increasing of concentration, (P<0.05). Minimum effective concentration of clove oil for river catfish is 25 ppm where fish exposed to 25 ppm of clove oil is anaesthetized in <3 min and recovered in <5 min . The study demonstrated that clove oil with 25 ppm can be used as an effective anaesthetic based on its efficacy, short exposure and recovery time, cost effective, ease of use and it is highly suggested to fish farmer in aquaculture management.