Preliminary Investigations into Use of Metomidate for Euthanasia of Ornamental Fishes

The goals of this study were to investigate the potential use of metomidate for one-step euthanasia of ornamental fish species representing commonly sold families in the ornamental fish trade and to determine a baseline euthanasia dose for most species tested. Metomidate hydrochloride, a rapid-acting, water-soluble, nonbarbiturate hypnotic related to etomidate, was tested at various concentrations and durations for euthanasia of species representing the following freshwater and marine aquarium fish families: Apogonidae, Ariidae, Blenniidae, Callichthyidae, Characidae, Cichlidae, Cyprinidae, Gobiidae, Gyrinocheilidae, Loricariidae, Melanotaeniidae, Osphronemidae, Pimelodidae, Poeciliidae, Pomacentridae, and Pseudochromidae. Fish in each trial were euthanized as a group (n = 1). Most groups contained 10-12 fish. Some higher doses required buffering. Euthanasia was considered successful if all fish in each group did not recover after 6 h in unmedicated water. All species immediately lost buoyancy and equilibrium, dropping to the tank bottom within 1 min and ceasing ventilation typically within minutes. However, reactivity to vibration, sound, or touch was noticeable for varying time periods afterward (8-66 min), so an additional 30 min of exposure after cessation of reactivity was included as part of the protocol. Although some species (Neon Tetras Paracheirodon innesi and Australian Rainbowfish Melanotaenia australis) were euthanized at a concentration of 40 mg/L metomidate for a total exposure time of 38 min, most species tested were successfully euthanized with metomidate at a concentration of 100 mg/L, with total exposure times ranging from 35-96 min. A few catfish species (Otocinclus sp. and Bronze Corydoras Corydoras aeneus) were refractory and recovered after 100 mg/L. However, Otocinclus sp. were successfully euthanized at 250 mg/L, and Bronze Corydoras were euthanized at 1,000 mg/L. Further studies are needed to provide additional data for these and other species and families, for different water chemistry conditions, and for various biological factors to fine-tune dosing regimens.