The aim of this study was to identify the times of anesthetic induction and recovery in slender seahorses (Hippocampus reidi) that were exposed to the essential oil of Lippia alba (EO), as well as the efficacy of EO as a stress-reducing agent in the transport of this species. Slender seahorses were placed in 1-L aquaria containing different concentrations of EO (0, 10, 20, 50, 150, ), and after induction, fish were transferred to aquaria that were free of anesthetic to evaluate their recovery time. In an additional experiment, slender seahorses were transported in plastic bags with 15 μL L -1 of EO for 4 or 24 h. The increased concentration of EO proportionally decreased the time required for the induction of anesthesia. EO treatment (15 μL L -1 ) inhibited the increase in blood glucose levels that was provoked by transportation for 4 or 24 h. Transportation for 24 h also decreased the number of lymphocytes and increased the neutrophil count, and these effects were avoided with the addition of EO to the water. These results demonstrate that EO was effective as an anesthetic at concentrations of 10-20 μL L -1 for slight sedation and transport and at 150 μL L -1 for deep anesthesia in the slender seahorse.O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os tempos da indução e recuperação anestésica em cavalos marinhos (Hippocampus reidi) expostos ao óleo essencial de Lippia alba (OE), assim como a eficácia do OE como um agente redutor de estresse no transporte desta espécie. Os cavalos marinhos foram colocados em aquários contendo 1 litro de água e diferentes concentrações de OE (0, 10, 20, 50, 150, 300 e 450 μL L -1 ), após a indução, os peixes foram transferidos à aquários livre de anestésico para avaliar o tempo de recuperação. Em um outro experimento os cavalos marinhos foram transportados em sacos plásticos contendo 15 μL L -1 do OE por 4 ou 24h. A concentração crescente do OE diminuiu proporcionalmente o tempo exigido para a indução da anestesia. O óleo essencial (15 μL L -1 ) inibiu o aumento nos níveis de glicose sanguínea provocada pelo transporte por 4 ou 24 h. O transporte por 24 h igualmente diminuiu o número de linfócitos e aumentou o número de neutrófilos, estas alterações foram evitadas com o uso do OE na água. Estes resultados demonstram que no cavalo marinho o OE é eficaz para a sedação e transporte na faixa de 10-20 μL L -1 e para a anestesia profunda recomenda-se 150 μL L -1 .
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