Zebrafish: Housing and husbandry recommendations

Area of Science:

• Animal Welfare Science
• Laboratory Animal Science
• Aquatic Animal Models

Background:

• European regulations mandate improved care standards for experimental animals, including zebrafish (Danio rerio).
• Current zebrafish husbandry practices vary significantly between laboratories, potentially impacting experimental reproducibility.
• Standardization of housing and care is crucial for enhancing both zebrafish welfare and scientific outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide evidence-based recommendations for laboratory zebrafish care and husbandry.
• To establish best practices and acceptable parameter ranges for zebrafish housing.
• To support the implementation of European directives on experimental animal welfare and reproducibility.

Main Methods:

• A joint working group involving EUFishBioMed and FELASA members was convened.
• Recommendations were developed based on a FELASA list of parameters ('Terms of Reference').
• Guidelines consider existing successful husbandry routines and natural zebrafish habitat variations.

Main Results:

• The article proposes specific ranges for husbandry parameters to ensure zebrafish welfare.
• It highlights the benefits of standardizing procedures for improving experimental result reproducibility.
• The recommendations aim to balance welfare needs with the practicalities of diverse laboratory settings.

Conclusions:

• Standardized zebrafish husbandry, using defined parameter ranges, is essential for advancing animal welfare and scientific rigor.
• These guidelines will aid facilities in complying with European regulations (EU Commission Recommendation 2007/526/EC and EU Directive 2010/63).
• Adoption of these recommendations will foster more reliable and reproducible research using zebrafish models.