Anesthesia of Koi & Goldfish

General comments: Using Anesthesia on Koi and Goldfish is simple, easy, and much less stressful for the fish and the owner than wrestling with your fish. Studies on fish have shown that stress is a major contributor to diseases and death. Once you have learned how to safely put your fish “under” you will be much better able to provide first aid or any other treatments necessary. All this being said anesthesia is not without risk. But in my opinion not adequately and humanly treating injured or sick fish is a much bigger concern.

 Anesthesia:  What to use and where to buy it. “Oil of Cloves” sometimes labeled “Eugenol.” It can usually be found in most large pharmacies and health food stores in liquid form in small bottles. I bought some recently in an Eckerd for $6.50. I had to ask the pharmacist where to find it and at this store it was in a small package labeled “Red Cross Toothache Medication.” The dose is 5-10 drops per gallon of water. Start with 5 drops per gallon and wait about 10 minutes if fish hasn’t gone over on it’s side or is deep enough to be worked on add 2-3 more drops per gallon and wait tem more minutes. 

Another option is a product called MS-222 or Tricaine Methanesulfonate. Common brand name is Tricane-S. This commercial fish tranquilizer is a powder will have to be bought from a large pond or koi supplier. Dose according to product label directions.

 How to use Anesthesia:

1)       You need two containers large enough to hold your fish and some pond water. The first is where you will use the anesthesia and the second is to revive your fish after treatment.

2)      Place enough pond water in both containers to allow the fish to float comfortably. Do not use containers larger than needed as then you will need to use greater amounts of anesthesia. You will also need to place something over the container to prevent your fish from jumping out and getting injured. The net you use to catch you fish might be fine.

 3)      Use surgical gloves.

4)      Measure the anesthesia into a small zip lock bag with a small amount of pond water. Shake the mixture until it is completely dissolved. Pour into the first container.

 5)      Use a small air stone to aerate the water in both containers.

 6)      Carefully catch and place the fish into the first container with the anesthesia mixed and air stone bubbling. Check the time. Watch the fish carefully through this entire process. It usually takes about 5-10 minutes for the fish to go under. If it seems unaffected by the anesthesia after ten minutes place some of the water from the tub back into the zip lock bag, add some additional anesthesia (perhaps 50% of original dose) shake and pour into the container with the fish. You might have to do this several times until your fish starts to sit on the bottom and eventually it will lay over on it’s side respiring slowly.

 7)      Your fish is ready to be treated when you can pick it up and it doesn’t flop around during treatment. It’s gills covers will still be moving slowly.

 8)      Complete your treatment and then place gently into the clean water container until it revives. Once the fish starts swimming it can be placed back into your pond or where ever you need to keep it. Do not release the fish until it is swimming freely.

9)      You can speed up the recovery by gently moving the fish back and forth until it revives.