Efficacy of lemongrass essential oil as an anesthetic for common carp (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus 1758) stocking material

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to examine the efficacy of lemongrass oil (Cymbopogon schoenanthus) by establishing the time needed for induction and recovery from anesthesia of common carp (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus 1758) stocking material. The fish have an average body weight (BW, g) of 14.15±4.68 g and an average total length (TL, cm) of 10.92±4.17 cm. Ten treatments are conducted with ten experimental concentrations: 0.02 ml/l-1, 0.04 ml/l-1, 0.06 ml/l-1, 0.08 ml/l-1, 0.10 ml/l-1, 0.12 ml/l-1, 0.14 ml/l-1, 0.16 ml/l-1. 0.18 ml/l-1 and 0.20 ml/l-1. For each concentration 10 fish (five treatments with two fish) are used or a total of 100 fish for the whole experiment. At concentration of 0.20 ml.l-1 the induction of anesthesia is the fastest (2.14±0.20 min), thus the recovery time at this concentration is the longest (7.06±0.59 min) (P≤0.05). From all tested concentrations the recovery time is the shortest at concentration 0.04 ml.l-1 – 2.61±0.43 min (P≤0.001). The lowest concentration (0.02 ml.l-1) has no anesthetic effect on carp stocking material. Based on the results obtained from the current experiment it can be concluded that lemongrass essential oil is effective as anesthetic agent for common carp stocking material, which makes it applicable in the fish farming practice.