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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

Administration of Volatile Anesthetics to Zebrafish Larvae for Behavioral Observation

Administration of Volatile Anesthetics to Zebrafish Larvae for Behavioral Observation

Published on: June 6, 2025

Do fish perceive anaesthetics as aversive?

Gareth D Readman¹, Stewart F Owen, Joanna C Murrell

¹Brixham Environmental Laboratory, AstraZeneca, Freshwater Quarry, Brixham, Devon, United Kingdom ; School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, North Somerset, United Kingdom.

|October 3, 2013

Summary

Many common fish anesthetics, like MS222 and benzocaine, are aversive to zebrafish. Etomidate is recommended as a humane alternative for fish anesthesia and euthanasia, improving fish welfare in research.

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Area of Science:

Aquatic Animal Welfare
Fish Physiology
Anesthesiology

Background:

Fish anesthesia is widely used in research and aquaculture.
Limited data exists on the aversiveness of common anesthetic agents.
Understanding fish behavioral responses is crucial for ethical practices.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the aversiveness of nine common fish anesthetics.
To identify preferred anesthetic agents for zebrafish (Danio rerio).
To inform ethical guidelines for fish anesthesia and euthanasia.

Main Methods:

Preference tests were conducted in a flow-through chemotaxic choice chamber.
Adult zebrafish were exposed to 50% standard dose of each anesthetic.
Video tracking software quantified swimming behavior to assess aversion.

Main Results:

MS222 (ethyl 3-aminobenzoate methanesulphate) and benzocaine were found to be aversive.
Etomidate and 2,2,2 tribromoethanol did not induce aversive behavioral responses.
Zebrafish showed avoidance of certain anesthetic agents.

Conclusions:

Several routinely used anesthetics elicit aversive responses in zebrafish.
Etomidate is a suitable alternative for humane anesthesia and euthanasia in zebrafish.
Avoidance of aversive agents is recommended for ethical fish handling.