While topical and local anesthetics have been used on occasion in fish, general anesthetics are more commonly applied.
The majority of chemicals used as general anesthetics mix well with water and allow for minimal restraint once the
fish have been placed into a designated induction pool. The water quality of this chamber should match closely that in
which the fish have been kept. Of particular interest are salinity, hardiness, pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature.
The easiest way to achieve this is to remove water directly from the fish's environment and then add anesthetic. Under
other circumstances, it may be desirable to add anesthetic directly to the fish environment. This is done by achieving
the appropriate anesthetic concentrations in the given amount of water. This is particularly advantageous when large numbers
of animals are to be sedated for movement from one system to another.