Aim: The aim of this research was to examine the efficacies of propofol and clove oil to decrease the metabolic activity during transportation in order to determine optimal protocols for sedation of fish.

Materials and Methods: 126 Jack Dempsey fish were used in this research. Control (n:42), propofol (n:42) and clove oil (n:42) groups placed into closed clear plastic fish bags filled with three litres of oxygen per litre of water and supplemented with 0.1 ml/L of propofol and clove oil. Respiratory rates, induction and recovery times, feed intake and color-changing times were measured while reactions to light, vibration and touch were scored for sensitivity controls.

Results: According to the results, the decrease of respiratory rates per minute (67.26 ± 6.3, 50.26 ± 9.4, 36.52 ± 4.6, 11.74 ± 4.8, 7.10 ± 3.5, 4.50 ± 2.2, 3.69 ±1.5) and recovery time respiratory rates (frequency per minute) of the propofol group (80.12 ± 1.84) differed from the control and clove oil groups (p ? 0.05). Regarding the sensibility controls, propofol group was less sensible to light, vibration and touch.

Conclusion: Considering its low cost and easy availability, since propofol has been found to be more suitable and clove oil was more ineffective than propofol, therefore propofol can be recommended as a priority in the transport of aquarium fish.