Optimization of Packing Conditions for Live Transportation of Anabas testudineus and Channa punctatus

Abstract

The study reports the optimized conditions for the live transportation of two air breathing fishes viz., Anabas testudineus and Channa punctatus. The requirement of bimodal oxygen, water and commercial oxygen for packing the fishes was determined. The use and suitable dose of MS-222, a standard fish anaesthetic containing ethyl-m-aminobenzoate as an active ingredient during live transportation was also studied. Five specimens of A. testudineus (total weight 72.50 g) required 385.880 and 497.977 mg oxygen from water and air respectively for packing and transportation for 72 h. For five specimens of C. punctatus (total weight: 57.50 g), 377.182 mg aquatic oxygen and 253.669 mg aerial oxygen was required. The optimum dose of MS-222 for A. testudineus (body weight: 14.00 ± 0.5 g) and for C. punctatus (body weight: 11.55 ± 0.65 g) was determined to be 70.0 mg l–1 and 32.50 mg l–1 respectively. The fishes transported in the optimized conditions reached the destination after 72 h without mortality.