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

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

Published in

Journal of Fish Biology
2019, volume: 95, number: 4, pages: 1161-1165
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd (10.1111)

SLU Authors

• Jones, Faith

  • University of St Andrews

UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Aquacultural Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14129

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/127615