ESSENTIAL OILS AND EUGENOL AS ANESTHETICS FOR Serrasalmus rhombeus

This study evaluated the periods of time of anesthetic induction and recovery of Serrasalmus rhombeus exposed to essential oils (EOs) of Aloysia triphylla and Lippia alba and eugenol, as well as if these anesthetics can be used for transport of this species through analysis of swimming behavior. Fish were placed in aquaria containing different concentrations of A. triphylla EO or L. alba EO or eugenol, posteriorly were transferred to aquaria containing only water to evaluate the recovery time. In the second experiment, behavior was analyzed during exposure to A. triphylla EO, L. alba EO or eugenol at 5 or 10 mu L L-1. The evaluations were carried out at 0, 1, 5, 10 and 15 min of exposure. Fish exposed to 150, 200 and 50 mu L L-1 of A. triphylla EO, L. alba EO and eugenol, respectively, showed anesthetic induction time lower than 3 min and recovery time lower than 10 min. Concentrations of 50 mu L L-1 of both EOs and 25 mu L L-1 eugenol caused only sedation. Exposure to 5 and 10 mu L L-1 EOs and eugenol decreased fish swimming time. Both EOs and eugenol were effective for anesthesia and can be used for transport of S. rhombeus.