EVALUATION OF EUTHANASIA OF MOON JELLYFISH () USING SIMPLE SALT SOLUTIONS.

Immersion euthanasia methods reported over the most recent decades for aquatic invertebrates use organic alcohols or halogenated hydrocarbons that can interfere with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. A rolling study design evaluated potassium chloride (KCl), magnesium chloride (MgCl), and magnesium sulfate (MgSO) as potential ion-based euthanasia methods for moon jellyfish () destined for metabolomic analysis by NMR spectroscopy. Death was defined as the cessation of autonomous bell pulsing and response to external stimulus. MgCl applied at a dose of 142 g/L provided euthanasia within 32 sec of applications without the untoward effects observed with the other two salts. Euthanasia with KCl at the doses tested was associated with abnormal behavior and tissue degradation during dissection. MgSO at the doses tested resulted in abnormal behavior and failed to provide rapid euthanasia.