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Journal of fish biology
Oct, 2019;95 (4): 1161-1165.

Shade as enrichment: testing preferences for shelter in two model fish species.

Nick A R Jones, Rowena Spence, Faith A M Jones, Helen C Spence-Jones
Author Information
  1. Nick A R Jones: School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK. ORCID
  2. Rowena Spence: School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, UK.
  3. Faith A M Jones: School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
  4. Helen C Spence-Jones: School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
PMID: 31454410 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14129

Abstract

We compared preferences shown by zebrafish Danio rerio and three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus for shelter provided by above-tank shade and artificial plants. Zebrafish showed no preference for either shelter, whereas sticklebacks showed a preference for both shelter types over open areas and for shade over plants. Our results suggest shade may be used as enrichment for captive fish and re-emphasise the importance of species-specific welfare considerations.

Keywords

environmental enrichment fish husbandry fish welfare shelter three-spined stickleback zebrafish

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Grants

  1. /Fisheries Society of the British Isles
  2. /St Andrews School of Biology
  3. /John Templeton Foundation

MeSH Term

Animals
Behavior, Animal
Housing, Animal
Light
Smegmamorpha
Species Specificity
Zebrafish
Journal Article
Article has an altmetric score of 9

Word Cloud

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