EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES (cont)
A cardiac puncture can be used to obtain a blood sample and is sometimes used in terminal procedures. This technique can be used in larger species that are to survive the bleeding after they are anesthetized. A 23 gauge needle is inserted on ventral side at the linea alba - there will be an indention along the ventral midline of the fish as it passes between the pectoral fins. A small amount of suction is applied to the syringe until blood appears in the needle hub indicating the ventricle has been pierced.
Cardiac puncture in the fish