The action of menthol on physiological and anesthesiological variables in rainbow trout was evaluated. Clinically healthy juvenile trout were used, of both sexes, formed in group A (n=20) of 201.4 ± 60.1 g of weight subjected to 100 ppm/L of menthol in water at pH 6.4 and in group B (n=20) of 187.3 ± 48.6 g of weight exposed to identical concentration of menthol with the water adjusted to pH 8.0 with sodium bicarbonate. The fish were placed in containers with water at 16.7 °C and electrical conductivity of 0.10 mS cm-1. The work methodology was: 1) acclimatization of fish in a container without drug and recording of the basal respiratory rate (RR) after adopting a normal swimming behavior; 2) transfer to a second container with menthol and recording of times of loss of lateral balance and anesthesia; 3) transfer of anesthetized fish to a third container without drug and record of RR a...