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Innovative Article | Animal Science | Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026 | Pages: 262 - 268 | India
Zebrafish Husbandry in Laboratory Static Water System - An Alternative, Adaptable and Cost- Effective Protocol for the Model Organism
Abstract: This study describes a simple, low-cost zebrafish (Danio rerio) husbandry system suitable for small laboratories with limited funding. Conventional zebrafish rearing protocols predominantly rely on flow-through or recirculating water systems, which demand substantial space, infrastructure, and maintenance costs. In contrast, the present work documents, for the first time, a complete zebrafish workflow- including rearing, breeding, spawning, hatching, larval nourishment, and long-term maintenance- implemented in a static water system with gradual exchange of water. Adult fish are housed in glass tanks under controlled water quality parameters and a natural day-night light cycle, with additional environmental conditions tailored to approximate natural habitats. Breeding is performed in customized setups at different seasons within the same tanks, and collected eggs are reared under static conditions. Adult zebrafish are fed commercially available dry diets, whereas larvae receive laboratory-hatched Artemia as a live food source. The results demonstrate that this static water protocol can support robust breeding performance and survival rates above 50% from viably collected eggs to adult during monsoon followed by 35-40% in other seasons. This breeding and rearing process is comparable to more complex systems, thereby providing a practical and cost-effective zebrafish husbandry platform for small-scale and resource-constrained laboratories.
Keywords: Zebrafish, Danio rerio, Static Water System, Laboratory Husbandry, Fish Breeding, Low-Cost Animal Facility
How to Cite?: Nabajit Mondal, Ansuman Chattopadhyay, Anirban Ghosh, "Zebrafish Husbandry in Laboratory Static Water System - An Alternative, Adaptable and Cost- Effective Protocol for the Model Organism", Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 262-268, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26603232410, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26603232410