Efficacy of Clove flower bud powder as anaesthetic for three life stages of S.  melanotheron  , O.  niloticus   and T. guineensis

Clove bud powder was used on three life stages of Sarotherodon melanotheron, Oreochromis niloticus and Tilapia guineensis to test its efficacy as an anaesthetic. Different concentrations were used in triplicate on 10 samples of adults, juveniles and fingerlings in 30L plastic aquaria and induction and recovery times were recorded. In S. melanotheron- The range of the induction time for the fingerlings, juveniles and adults from 5mg/l to 30mg/l were: 52.00 ± 4.71 - 107.40 ± 12.43s, 43.00 ± 4.83 - 98.70 ± 3.92s, and 45.60 ± 4.48 - 89.80 ± 3.93s, respectively. The recovery time at 5mg/l compared with that at 30 mg/l were: fingerlings- 62.0 ± 4.45 and 125.40s, 84.80 ± 6.76 and 165.20 ± 10.05s, and 94.80 ± 6.49 and 194.40 ± 10.84s. Times of induction and recovery differed (p < 0.05) among the life stages. In O. niloticus, induction was effected in the fingerlings, juveniles and adults in 118.10 ± 4.46s, 114.00 ± 5.25s and 52.60 ± 4.55s at 5 mg/l; 60.60 ± 9.75s, 52.60 ± 4.56s and 55.60 ± 4.48s for 30mg/l, respectively. The induction time in juveniles across the concentrations was generally lower than that for the other life stages. In T. guineensis, the range of the induction time for the fingerlings, juveniles and adults from 5mg/l to 30mg/l were: 52.00±4.71-107.40±12.43s, 43.00±4.83- 98.70±3.92s, and 45.60±4.48-89.80±3.93s, respectively. The recovery time at 5mg/l compared with that at 30mg/ was: fingerlings- 62.0±4.45 and 125.40s, 84.80±6.76 and 165.20±10.05s, and 94.80±6.49 and 194.40±10.84s.