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.
Citation
Jones , N A R , Spence , R , Jones , F A M & Spence-Jones , H C 2019 , ' Shade as enrichment : testing preferences for shelter in two model fish species ' , Journal of Fish Biology , vol. 95 , no. 4 , pp. 1161-1165 . https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14129
Publication
Journal of Fish Biology
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0022-1112Type
Journal article
Description
N.A.R.J. was supported by an Fisheries Society of the British Isles studentship, F.M.J. by the St Andrews School of Biology and H.C.S.-J. by the John Templeton Foundation.Collections
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