Zebrafish Automated Home Tank

The Maze Engineers Zebrafish Automated Home tank is an experimental apparatus that allows researchers to study and collect data on the behavior of zebrafish in a controlled environment, which can help to reduce variability and improve the reliability of the results. The tank is equipped with a variety of sensors and actuators that allow researchers to control the environment. This data can be used to study a variety of topics, including learning and memory, anxiety, and social behavior.

Components of a Maze Engineers Zebrafish Automated Home tank include:

• Tank: Composed of polycarbonate, size options included 2L, 5L, and 10L tanks.
• Sensors: The tank is equipped with a variety of sensors that can collect data on the behavior of the fish, such as their swimming speed, position, and activity level.
• Actuators: Tank environment parameters such as water velocity, temperature, and light are manually or automatically controlled.
• Filtration system: A stainless steel UV unit, moving bed biofilter, 50-micron cartridge filter, 200-micron pre-filter ba, 350 gram capacity activated carbon filter. A 10% water change occurs each day.
• Data collection system: The data collected by the sensors can be exported to computer or other data collection system.

Some examples of behavior which can be studied using the Automated Zebrafish Home Tank system include:

• Learning and memory: Study the effects of different learning paradigms on the behavior of zebrafish. Examples include Zebrafish operant behaviors using food rewards and lights.
• Anxiety:  Study the effects of anxiety on the behavior of zebrafish. Examples include exposure to a stressful environment assess exhibit anxiety-like behaviors, such as increased swimming speed and decreased activity level.
• Social behavior: Study the effects of social interactions on the behavior of zebrafish. Such as the study of grouped zebrafish exhibiting social behaviors, such as swimming close to each other and grooming each other.

• Polycarbonate tanks available in 2L, 5L, and 10L sizes with lid (Customizable dimensions available)
• 2 or 3 shelves
• Water pump, 10% water change per day
• Multi-filtration system: 50-micron cartridge filter, 350 gram capacity activated carbon filter, 200 micron pre-filter bag
• Environmental sensors for temperature (sensitivity 0.1°C), O2 saturation levels, C02 levels
• Camera and video tracking software and hardware for 24/7 monitoring
• Multiple data analyses: Measure activity, locomotion, social behaviors, discrete behaviours eg. grooming, sleep/wake, sickness
• Easy assembly/de-assembly for cleaning

The following parameters can be observed using the Zebrafish Automated Home Cage:

• Zebrafish single and social behaviors: Swimming, activity, sleep/wake, stress and anxiety, grooming, sickness.
• Water quality: Temperature, O2, Co2 levels.
• Applications: cohort or single subject analysis over a set time period, genetic manipulation and behavioral phenotyping, pharmacological effects, social interactions, circadian rhythms.

Automated monitoring of behaviour in zebrafish after invasive procedures

Deakin et al. focused on the development and application of automated techniques to monitor the behavior of zebrafish following invasive procedures. The aim of the research was to provide a non-invasive and efficient method to assess the impact of invasive procedures on zebrafish behavior, allowing for improved animal welfare and experimental outcomes.

The researchers employed computer vision and image analysis algorithms to track and analyze the behavior of zebrafish. They conducted experiments involving invasive procedures, such as injections or surgeries, on the zebrafish and recorded their behavior using high-resolution cameras. The recorded videos were then subjected to automated analysis using specialized software.

By analyzing various behavioral parameters, such as swimming activity, velocity, and exploratory behavior, the researchers could assess the effects of the invasive procedures on zebrafish behavior. They compared the behavior of the experimental group (subjected to invasive procedures) with control groups (not subjected to invasive procedures) to identify any differences or abnormalities.

The automated monitoring system proved to be effective in detecting and quantifying alterations in zebrafish behavior following invasive procedures. It provided a reliable and objective assessment of behavior, eliminating the potential biases associated with manual observation.

The study highlighted the potential of automated monitoring as a valuable tool in animal research, particularly in assessing the impact of invasive procedures on zebrafish behavior. It offers a more refined and ethical approach to evaluate the effects of experimental interventions, allowing researchers to better understand the consequences of invasive procedures on zebrafish well-being and behavior.

Overall, the research contributes to the advancement of animal welfare in scientific investigations and provides a practical solution for monitoring zebrafish behavior in a non-invasive and automated manner.

 The Zebrafish Automated Home Tank system allows for the study and analysis of Zebrafish in a controlled environment. The home tank can be used for long-term habituation while controlling water conditions. Video tracking allows the user to track behavior of single fish or groups.

Deakin, A. G., Buckley, J., S., H., Cossins, A. R., Spencer, J. W., Young, I. S., Thomson, J. S., & Sneddon, L. U. (2019). Automated monitoring of behaviour in zebrafish after invasive procedures. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45464-w