Expert: Walter Hintz - 2/8/2011

Question
Dear Walter

How we can perform Blood Transfusion in Aquariam Fishes ?
do we have to give local anaesthetia to the fish requiring blood as suffering from some disease or has become weak due to anemia ?

For example :

Gold Fish.

The Goldfish requires blood. now how do we do blood transfusion from another gold fish ?

Awaiting Your Reply,

Thanks & Regards,
Prashant S Akerkar

Answer
The fish has a 2 chambered heart so there is no separation of venous or arterial blood but technically if you could tap a blood vessel somehow it might be possibly. Of course you would have to do it out of the water and stress and oxygen lack would most likely kill the fish.  
This is academic of course since I can find no reason why we would give a blood transfusion to a fish.
You do come up with some interesting questions Prashant.