Effects of anaesthetics on the oxygen consumption rates of platyfish Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther)

This study was carried out to find out the effects of anaesthetics, 2-phenoxyethanol. quinaldine sulphate. MS-222 and metomidate. at various dosages, on the oxygen consumption rates of two size groups of platyfish. Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther) at three temperatures. The results show that the oxygen consumption by the platyfish of both size groups was temperature dependent, being higher at higher temperature, but not size dependent. The effects of anaesthetics on the oxygen consumption rates of platyfish were dosage dependent and temperature dependent, especially for 2-phenoxyethanol, the effect always being significantly greater at lower temperature. Small and large fish did not show much difference in their responses to anaesthetic treatments. However, with 2-phenoxyethanol, the effect on the large platyfish was always better than on the small ones at 20-25°C. At 220-440 ppm and at 20°C, 2-phenoxyethanol was more effective than the other anaesthetics in suppressing oxygen consumption by the platyfish.