The science behind using alfaxalone as a sedative and anaesthetic in goldfish.

It’s great that clinical veterinarians are able to get into fish medicine with what they already stock in their pharmacy. Alfaxalone is a commonly used drug for cats and dogs and it can also be used to sedate or anaesthetise fish!

Aquaculture
Volume 399, Number 2 (June 2013)
	Evaluation of the sedative and anaesthetic effects of five different concentrations of alfaxalone in goldfish, Carassius auratus
	Authors:	S.H. Bauquier, J. Greenwood, T. Whittem
	Author Affiliations:	no affiliations available
	Source:	Aquaculture, Volume 399, Number 2 (June 2013)
	Page Numbers:	119 – 123
	Available Full Text:	Full Text: Subscription Required to view full text Format: PDF Size: Unknown Location: Publisher’s Site Authentication: Publisher’s Site
	Abstract:	Anecdotal publications describe induction of anaesthesia in fish with alfaxalone. This study’s objective was to determine the water concentrations of alfaxalone required to sedate and anaesthetise goldfish. The study was conducted as an unmasked, parallel design, randomised trial with five groups each of six healthy goldfish, Carassius auratus.Fish with a mean length (±SD) of 8.5 (±2.5) cm were immersed in individual water tank with controlled temperature (23–25°C), pH (6.8–7.2) and osmolality (38–45mOsm/L), at concentrations of 0.15, 0.5, 2.0, 5.0 and 7.5mg alfaxalone per litre, complexed with hydroxypropyl-beta cyclodextrin. Monitoring of fish included body approach reaction, maintenance of equilibrium, operculum movement and response to noxious stimuli. Depth of anaesthesia was determined using a modified published scale. A concentration of 0.15mg alfaxalone/L water was insufficient to induce sedation or anaesthesia. Mean sedation induction time±SD (range) after immersion at concentrations of 0.5 and 2.0mg alfaxalone/L were 37±7 (34–50) min and 7±1 (5–8) min respectively. Anaesthesia was not achieved at those concentrations. After immersion in water containing 5.0 and 7.5mg alfaxalone/L mean sedation induction times were 4±2 (2–6) min and 2±1 (1–2) min respectively, mean anaesthesia induction times were 28±8 (16–35) min and 14±2 (12–18) min respectively and mean full recovery times were 32±18 (20–67) min and 36±13 (23–53) min respectively. No adverse events were seen. The lowest water concentrations of alfaxalone identified to induce sedation and anaesthesia in goldfish (C. auratus) were 0.5mg/L and 5mg/L respectively.
	Citation:	S.H. Bauquier, J. Greenwood, T. Whittem . Evaluation of the sedative and anaesthetic effects of five different concentrations of alfaxalone in goldfish, Carassius auratus. Aquaculture, Volume 399, Number 2 (June 2013), pp. 119-123, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4D8682E08F9AEDDE8B0B&gt;
	URL:	http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4D8682E08F9AEDDE8B0B