A Semi-Automatic Dispenser for Solid and Liquid Food in Aquatic Facilities

Area of Science:

• Aquatic animal husbandry
• Laboratory automation
• Zebrafish research

Background:

• Manual feeding of aquatic animals, such as zebrafish, is labor-intensive and prone to inconsistencies.
• Traditional feeding methods can lead to repetitive strain injuries in facility staff.
• Accurate and consistent food delivery is crucial for controlled aquatic research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel semi-automatic feeding system for aquatic animals.
• To improve the efficiency, accuracy, and safety of food delivery in tank-based aquatic facilities.
• To reduce the physical burden on animal care staff and enhance animal observation time.

Main Methods:

• A portable, semi-automatic dispenser with a contactless reader was designed.
• The system incorporates modules for delivering solid food (particles <2mm) and liquid food (e.g., brine shrimp, rotifers).
• Real-world testing and validation were conducted over several months in a zebrafish facility.

Main Results:

• The semi-automatic system demonstrated significantly higher reliability compared to manual feeding.
• Standard deviation in food delivery was reduced 7-fold for solid food and 84-fold for liquid food.
• The system mitigated musculoskeletal disorders in staff and allowed for better animal behavior observation.

Conclusions:

• The developed semi-automatic feeding system is a cost-effective and efficient solution for aquatic animal husbandry.
• This technology enhances feeding accuracy, reduces staff injury risk, and improves overall laboratory animal care.
• The system is adaptable for various aquatic species housed in rack systems.