An Affordable and Easy-to-Construct Zebrafish Housing System for Stable Long-Term Laboratory Research

Area of Science:

• Aquatic animal models
• Laboratory animal husbandry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are widely used in vivo research models due to cost-effectiveness.
• Existing do-it-yourself (DIY) zebrafish housing systems often exhibit poor water quality, structural fragility, and inconsistent conditions.
• These limitations hinder their suitability for rigorous scientific research and teaching, falling short of commercial standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel, affordable, and easily constructible zebrafish housing system.
• To address the shortcomings of existing DIY zebrafish housing solutions.
• To provide a reliable and stable housing environment for zebrafish research and education.

Main Methods:

• Utilized three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to create adaptable zebrafish tanks.
• Implemented a multi-layered water recirculation and filtration system.
• Designed the system without chemical adhesives for enhanced stability and safety.

Main Results:

• The 3D-printed tanks accommodate zebrafish at all developmental stages.
• The advanced filtration system ensures stable, long-term water quality.
• The system has been successfully used for over three years, supporting multiple fish generations.

Conclusions:

• The novel 3D-printed housing system offers a cost-effective, adaptable, and high-quality solution for zebrafish husbandry.
• This system overcomes the limitations of previous DIY designs, making it suitable for research and teaching laboratories.
• The successful long-term housing demonstrates the system's reliability and potential for widespread adoption.