A Standardized Structural Environmental Enrichment for Zebrafish Kept Research Facilities.

Abstract

Environmental enrichment for research animals does not only promote animal welfare but is also essential for obtaining scientifically relevant and reproducible results. Currently, all available "enrichments" for zebrafish aquaria are either not standardized, pose a biosafety risk, or may lead to increased aggression due to their monopolization by the dominant individual. We have developed the environmental enrichment divider which provides standardized enrichment for zebrafish aquaria mimicking hanging vegetation found in the natural habitat of zebrafish. The divider cannot be monopolized and thereby does not lead to increased aggression. Furthermore, it can easily be implemented in the workflow of any zebrafish research facility and is made of inert, autoclavable plastic, which does not pose a biosafety risk.