EFFICIENCY OF 2-PHENOXYETHANOL, BENZOCAINE, QUINALDINE AND TRICAINE METHASULPHONATE AS AN ANESTHESIA FOR Pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomus) FINGERLINGS AND JUVENILE FISHES

Objective. To evaluate the efficiency of 2-phenoxyethanol, benzocaine, quinaldine and tricaine methasulphonate (MS-222) as an anesthesia for pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomus) fingerlings and juvenile fishes. Materials and methods. Fingerlings (7.3 ± 6.8 g) and juveniles (49.6 ± 28.4 g) were exposed to 2-phenoxyethanol (200, 400 and 600 ppm), benzocaine (50, 100 y 150 ppm), quinaldine (7.5, 15 y 30 ppm) or MS-222 (100, 150 y 200 ppm) (n=12) in order to evaluate the induction and recovery time, opercular frequency and post-anesthesia survival. Results. Induction time was longer in juveniles than in fingerlings (p<0.05) and decreased in proportion to the increase in the concentration of anesthesia. However, induction time in fingerlings exposed to MS-222 was longer than in juveniles. Fingerlings exposed to 2-phenoxyethanol had similar induction times at the three concentrations (p>0.05), whereas the juveniles exposed to the low MS-222 concentration had lower induction time (p<0.05). The recovery time was less than 2 min. using 2- phenoxyethanol, MS-222, quinaldine and 50 ppm of benzocaine, but was longer with higher benzocaine concentrations. No variation in opercular frequency or mortality was observed during or after anesthesia. Conclusions. In fingerlings and juveniles, 2-phenoxyethanol (400 ppm) and MS-222 (100 ppm), respectively, are considered the anesthetics of choice for short procedures. Higher concentrations of benzocaine should be used for longer procedures