Abstract:To improve the survival rate of aquatic animals during live transport, the feasibility of traditional Chinese medicine borneol as an anesthetic was explored in this study. The anesthetic effects of borneol and MS-222 (tricaine methanesulfonate or fish diazepam) at different concentrations on Ctenopharyngodon idellus and the impact of water temperature on its anesthetic effects were studied following administration of 30 mg/L borneol and 20 mg/L MS-222. Additionally, simulated post-anesthesia transport was conducted at 20 ℃ after administration of 30 mg/L borneol and 20 mg/L MS-222, followed by comparative analysis of key biochemical indicators. Anesthesia test results showed that rising anesthetic concentrations shortened the time necessary for C. idellus to reach the same anesthetic depth, prolonged full-recovery time, and A concentration range between ~20 mg/L and 40 mg/L borneol was suitable for C. idellus anesthesia transport. Additionally, in the presence of decreasing water temperature, anesthesia time was shortened, but recovery time was increased, and a water temperature between ~20 ℃ and 25 ℃ was suitable for C. idellus transport. Simulated anesthesia-transportation test results showed that C. idellus survival rates after 24 h of transport following borneol or MS-222 administration were 100% and 70%, respectively. Furthermore, recovery time increased as transport duration increased, and all biochemical indicators associated with transport following borneol administration were better as compared with those following MS-222 administration. Therefore, the results of this study suggested that the effect of anesthesia-related transport using borneol on preservation was superior to that using MS-222 at a water temperature between 20 ℃ and 25 ℃.