100% w/w Tricaine methane sulphonate for dissolution in water for sedation and anaesthesia of fish.
Indications for use include transportation, weighing, tagging, clipping, stripping of broodstock, blood sampling and surgical procedures.
Withdrawal period
Fish must not be slaughtered for human consumption during treatment.
Fish may be slaughtered for human consumption only after 70º days from the last treatment.
Contra-indications
Do not exceed the dose recommended for each category of fish. Do not use the product in the following tropical fish: Apistogramma (Mikrogeophagus) ramirez, Balantiocheilos melanopterus, Etroplus suratensis, Melanotaenia maccullochi, Monodactylus argenteus, Phenacogrammus interruptus και Scatophagus argus
Environmental Warnings
Dispose of the product and its solutions by burying in waste ground away from water courses.
Operator warnings
- Wear latex/rubber gloves when handling the product or solution.
- If accidental skin or eye contact occurs, wash the affected area immediately with clean water.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke while handling the product.
- Wash your hands after use.
General Precautions
Keep out of the reach of the children. For animal treatment only. Any adverse reactions to MS 222 in use should be reported to PHARMA Ltd. by the user with details of all the conditions prevailing.
Pharmaceutical Warnings
Do not store above 25οC. Protect from direct sunlight. Store in a dry place. Store in the original container and re-seal opened packs immediately after use to exclude moisture. Solutions should be used only on the day of preparation and should be protected from direct sunlight until used.
Dosage and administration
A number of factors influence the efficacy and safety of the product, including concentration of the drug in water, duration of exposure, temperature, oxygen content, salinity and hardness of water, size of fish (smaller are more susceptible) and density of biomass.
Because of these variable factors it is strongly recommended that a test of the selected drug concentration and exposure time is conducted with a small group of representative fish before large numbers are medicated. The product should be dissolved in water of the same composition and characteristics as that to which the fish are accustomed. As the product has good aqueous solubility, it may be added directly to the container. Effects on the fish should be monitored as the product is gradually introduced. MS222 is acidic in solution and we recommend buffering of solutions made up with soft water (low alkalinity/total hardness) with an equal amount of sodium bicarbonate (baking powder).
Before anaesthesia, or prolonged sedation, fish should be fasted for 12 to 24 hours. During treatment they should be stocked at a density not exceeding 80g/litre. To minimise damage and loss when medicated for long periods for transport etc. the level of sedation should allow fish to maintain their equilibrium and swimming position. Aeration should be provided unless sedation, or anaesthesia, is of short duration.
In anaesthesia loss of reflexes takes place in one to fifteen minutes after immersion, depending upon concentration employed. Narcotised fish should be removed from medicated water and returned to their normal environment as soon as possible, when recovery will take between one and 30 minutes.
