Aqua-Sed anaesthetic for pet fish
Aqua-Sed is based on the tried and tested active ingredient 2-phenoxyethanol, and it comes in a bottle with an easy-to-use measuring pump. It's a liquid with a very wide safety margin and has been used for anaesthetising fish for many years (reports go back to 1943). Please note that any anaesthetic a carries a risk, sometimes because the fish may have an unknown/undiagnosed problem which may cause an issue. For this reason we do not suggest the routine use of anaesthesia of koi carp for a general check-up.
We have produced a couple of pages in our information section which explain the process of anaesthesia and considerations.
Fish anaesthesia
Aqua-Sed is is also suitable for use as a fish euthanasia product (at 4x the normal dose), which will enable fish keepers to humanely euthanase seriously ill or severely injured fish. Aqua-Sed also presents a significant leap forward for petfish welfare, carrying instructions on how to humanely euthanase pet fish.
Fish Euthanasia
Instructions for use:
Don’t put anaesthetics into the pond, always do this process in a separate container. Before you sedate or anaesthetise a fish make sure you have everything you need before you start.
• Fill a suitable bowl with enough pond or tank water to cover the fish. Shake the bottle before use. Use one measuring pump (1.5ml) per litre of water - add the measured dosage of Aqua-Sed and aerate with an air stone. Fish may get excited when first exposed to the sedative so cover the container.
• Place fish in bowl until it rolls onto its side (normally 2-3 minutes). Lift fish, if there is any tail movement then place back into solution for a further 30 seconds until it is fully sedated.
• When you take the fish out of water for a procedure, lay it on a wet towel and cover the eyes and tail with the towel, ideally have assistance who can 'control' the fish while you do what is necessary
• Have a container of fresh water available for recovery. It’s often safer and easier to use containers for recovery rather than simply immediately returning fish to the pond.
• To assist recovery gently move the fish forward through the fresh water to help the water flow over the gills
Aqua-Sed can be used in the presence of salt. The transition between stages of anaesthesia can be very rapid so great care is needed.