The anesthetic effects of clove oil, MS-222 and propofol on aquaculture of Larimichthys crocea were studied to provide a reference in the selection of anesthetics for live transportation. At the water temperature of 20 (±0.5) ℃, the appropriate mass concentrations of three anesthetics were firstly explored, and the appropriate mass concentrations were preliminarily obtained as follows: clove oil: 10 mg/L, MS-222: 40 mg/L, and propofol: 0.2 mg/L. Subsequently, the suitable water temperature for anesthesia of Larimichthys crocea was optimized, and the results showed that when clove oil was at 20 ℃, MS-222 at 15 ℃, and propofol at 25 ℃, the anesthetic effect was the best. According to the optimized mass concentration and water temperature, the simulated transportation of Larimichthys crocea anesthetized with three anesthetics was carried out. It was found that with the extension of simulated transportation time, the recovery rate of Larimichthys crocea anesthetized with the three anesthetics gradually decreased. After 24 h, the recovery rate of Larimichthys crocea anesthetized with clove oil and MS-222 could reach 90 %, but the recovery rate of Larimichthys crocea anesthetized with propofol was 70 %, indicating the anesthetic effects of clove oil and MS-222 were better. The economic cost analysis of clove oil and MS-222 shows that the cost of clove oil is relatively low, so it is more suitable to be used as an anesthetic for live transportation of Larimichthys crocea.    []