Comparison of anesthetic effects of clove oil in angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare), guppy (Poecilia reticulate) and goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Clove oil is one of the best anesthetic drugs, recently that has been highly regarded in fishery science for its specific characteristics. The present research accomplished for determination lowest concentration of clove oil for inducing anesthesia in angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare), guppy (Poecilia reticulate) and goldfish (Carassius auratus) as valuable species in the ornamental fish industry. Fish (120 pieces of each species) were anesthetized by different concentrations (50, 75, 100, and 150 ppm) of clove oil in 25±2 °C and pH=7±1. Afterwards, fish transferred to the recovery aquarium for recovery. Times for loss of equilibrium, anesthesia, regain of equilibrium and recovery were recorded and analyzed. The result showed the lowest concentration of clove oil for inducing anesthesia in angelfish and guppy at the lesser time than 3 minutes was 50 ppm, which that was anesthetized fish at 146.4±18.5 and 178.8±7.4 seconds respectively.  The lowest concentration of clove oil for inducing anesthesia in goldfish was 75 ppm, which that was anesthetized fish at 155.2±4.5 seconds. Recovery times in angelfish, guppy, and goldfish were under 5 minutes and 211.8±18.8, 208.7±7.4 and 191.2±4.6 seconds respectively. Recovery process showed no disorder.