Invertebrate · Octopus vulgaris · typical adult weight 1.00–10.00 kg
Benzocaine is dosed at 2500–3500 mg/L immersion once in common octopuses, per Invertebrate Medicine, 3rd ed (Lewbart, 2022), Table 9.6 "Cephalopod formulary", corpus PDF p.596. Published 2026-08-06. — SOURCE EDITION: Invertebrate Medicine — ISBN 9781119569435, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119569435. Benzocaine is used in common octopuses for Anaesthesia. Routes documented in common octopuses: immersion. A typical adult common octopus weighs 1.00–10.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Benzocaine in common octopuses, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| immersion | 2500–3500 mg/L | once | To effect | Anaesthesia | Weak | Invertebrate Medicine, 3rd ed (Lewbart, 2022), Table 9.6 "Cephalopod formulary", corpus PDF p.596. Published 2026-08-06. — SOURCE EDITION: Invertebrate Medicine — ISBN 9781119569435, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119569435 |
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SAFETY AND HANDLING (BSAVA Part B p.50, verbatim): The powder should be stored dry and stock solutions should be stored in the dark. ACTION (BSAVA Part B p.50, verbatim): Benzocaine is lipid soluble and is rapidly absorbed across the gills and skin, resulting in anaesthesia by impeding peripheral nerve signal transmission to the CNS. USE (BSAVA Part B p.50, verbatim): Sedation, immobilization, anaesthesia and euthanasia of fish. Ideally, the drug should be used in water from the tank or pond of origin to minimize problems due to changes in water chemistry. The dry powder is poorly soluble in water and must be made into a stock solution with acetone or ethanol (e.g. 100 g/l) for more accurate dosing. Before use, the pH of the anaesthetic solution should be buffered with sodium bicarbonate to the same pH as the water of origin. The anaesthetic solution should be used on the day of preparation and be well aerated during use. Food should be withheld from fish for 12-24 h prior to anaesthesia to reduce the risk of regurgitation. The stage of anaesthesia reached is determined by the concentration used and the duration of exposure, since absorption continues throughout the period of immersion. Potency decreases with higher temperatures. Different species vary in their response and may require different concentrations. It is recommended to use the lower dose rates to test the selected drug concentration and exposure time with a small group before medicating large numbers. Fish may retain some movement during anaesthesia, making it less desirable to use SOURCE: Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.50.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for common octopuses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Benzocaine dose range in common octopuses, with cited source references: immersion 2500–3500 mg/L once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Benzocaine in common octopuses: immersion.
Cited course lengths for Benzocaine in common octopuses include: To effect. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Benzocaine is indicated in common octopuses for: Anaesthesia.
These are general warnings for Benzocaine across species; consult the common octopus dosing table above for species-specific guidance. SAFETY AND HANDLING (BSAVA Part B p.50, verbatim): The powder should be stored dry and stock solutions should be stored in the dark. ACTION (BSAVA Part B p.50, verbatim): Benzocaine is lipid soluble and is rapidly absorbed across the gills and skin, resulting in anaesthesia by impeding peripheral nerve signal transmission to the CNS. USE (BSAVA Part B p.50, verbatim): Sedation, immobilization, anaesthesia and euthanasia of fish. Ideally, the drug should be used in water from the tank or pond of origin to minimize problems due to changes in water chemistry. The dry powder is poorly soluble in water and must be made into a stock solution with acetone or ethanol (e.g. 100 g/l) for more accurate dosing. Before use, the pH of the anaesthetic solution should be buffered with sodium bicarbonate to the same pH as the water of origin. The anaesthetic solution should be used on the day of preparation and be well aerated during use. Food should be withheld from fish for 12-24 h prior to anaesthesia to reduce the risk of regurgitation. The stage of anaesthesia reached is determined by the concentration used and the duration of exposure, since absorption continues throughout the period of immersion. Potency decreases with higher temperatures. Different species vary in their response and may require different concentrations. It is recommended to use the lower dose rates to test the selected drug concentration and exposure time with a small group before medicating large numbers. Fish may retain some movement during anaesthesia, making it less desirable to use SOURCE: Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.50.
Why a species-specific page? Benzocaine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in common octopuses — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.