Anesthetic effect of clove oil on Gambusia holbrooki (mosquito fish)

Clove oil, a natural anesthetic, stands out among anesthetic agents used in experimental studies on fish. In this study, the anesthetic effect of clove oil on mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) was investigated, and the durations of anesthesia stages were determined. Additionally, the effects of various parameters (pH, duration, concentration, hardness, temperature) on anesthesia were examined. The impact of the anesthetic effect of clove oil on swimming speed and distance was behaviorally analyzed using Any-maze video tracking software. Inhalation anesthesia was applied, and an anesthetic solution was prepared by dissolving 1 ml of clove oil in 5 ml of ethyl alcohol (ethanol). The solution was added to 1 L of fresh, aerated water at 20°C containing the fish divided into specially designated groups for the experiment. Three groups were created for each of the five factors: a control group, a low-value group, and a high-value group, with 15 fish per factor, totaling 75 fish. The results showed that gender and size, in particular, influenced the anesthetic response. Female fish were observed to have a longer induction time and a shorter recovery time, while male fish had a shorter induction time and a longer recovery time. Male fish also appeared more sensitive to the anesthetic agent and environmental changes. Smaller fish (generally males) were found to be more affected by anesthesia. In addition to physical differences, the parameters used in the experiment (pH, duration, concentration, hardness, temperature) also resulted in differences in induction and recovery times compared to the control group.