Lidocaine hydrochloride—sodium bicarbonate as an anesthetic for soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis

ABSTRACT:   Attempts were made to understand how the different sizes (mean body weight of 4.1 ± 0.8 g for small and 182.6 ± 23.7 g for large) of the soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis are affected by different temperature (25°C or 30°C), and different concentrations (700, 1000 and 1300 p.p.m.) of anesthetic lidocaine hydrochloride–sodium bicarbonate. The soft-shelled turtles were fed to satiation once daily. Three-way anova design (size × temperature × concentration of lidocaine hydrochloride) with duplicate was used. Twenty each of large and small soft-shelled turtles were distributed into six 30-L tanks. Exposure time of the soft-shelled turtle was affected by all factors (temperature, concentration and size). Exposure time of the soft-shelled turtle for anesthetizing decreased with increase in temperature and in concentration of lidocaine hydrochloride, and decrease in size. Recovery time for the soft-shelled turtle was also affected by all factors. Recovery time of the soft-shelled turtle increased with increase in temperature, concentration of lidocaine hydrochloride, and size. According to these results, lidocaine hydrochloride (1000 p.p.m.)–sodium bicarbonate seemed an effective anesthetic for sedating and handling the soft-shelled turtle. However, when an anesthetic is recommended for wide use, especially on commercially important edible organisms, the time organism takes to metabolize and excrete anesthetic chemicals from its body to a safe level must be given to allow fitness for human consumption.