Efficacy Of Some Plant Extracts As Anaesthetics Agent In Tranportation Of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Abu OMG, Ayaobu-Cookey IK and Ogu JF

Published on: 2023-10-19

Abstract

The effectiveness of clove and nut Meg seed extracts as anaesthetic agent in transportation of Oreochromis niloticus was carried out. A total of 600 specimens of O. niloticus fingerlings (mean length 6.87cm±1.54 SD and mean weight 10.23g±1.23SD), and Juveniles (mean length 10.34cm±2.02 SD and mean weight 33.13g±4.55 SD) were procured from African Regional Aquaculture Centre, (ARAC), Aluu, Rivers State of Nigeria. They were exposed in three replicates to different concentrations (0.00mg/L- control; 10.00; 20.00; 30.00 and 40.00 mg/L) of clove and nut Meg seed aqueous extracts. The exposed fish were later transported in open plastic tanks from ARAC, in Aluu to Rivers State University, Port Harcourt over a distance of 60km. During this process, the survivals of the transported fish were monitored at time intervals of 20, 40, 60, and 80 minutes. At the end of the experimental period, glucose levels in the plasma of the fish were assessed. The result of the study indicated that the survival of the fish increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing concentration of the anaesthetics in both juveniles and fingerlings of the exposed fish. The lowest survival rate (10.0%) was recorded in the fish transported with no anesthetics, while 100% survivals were recorded in fish exposed to 40.0 and 50.0 mg/L of the extracts.In conclusion, this study suggests that application of clove and nut Meg seed extracts within the range of 30.00 and 40.00 mg/L reduced the stress response in O.niloticus during transportation, and enhanced their survival.