Fish

The presence of substrate as a means of environmental enrichment does not improve the welfare of the laboratory rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus)

Increasing the complexity of physical structure is a common means of environmental enrichment, and it is possible to improve the welfare level of fish by improving their biological function. Although laboratory fish play an important role in the field of...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Xu, C., Cui, Y., Zou, X. et al. 2026. The presence of substrate as a means of environmental enrichment does not improve the welfare of the laboratory rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus). Journal of Fish Biology 108(1), 207–213.

Color preference of zebrafish (Danio rerio) differs in midday and midnight

This study aimed to examine whether zebrafish exhibit different color preferences during the day and night under controlled laboratory conditions. Twenty adult zebrafish (3 months old, 1:1 male/female ratio) were housed under a 14:10 h light/dark cycle and tested using a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Shadman, A. F. 2025. Color preference of zebrafish (Danio rerio) differs in midday and midnight. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 293, 106860.

The effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in transport water on the behaviour of ornamental fishes

The ornamental fish supply chain has multiple transportation phases which can induce stress in fishes. Previous studies have considered methods of improving welfare during transport, by adding water conditioners based on natural compounds known to have anxiolytic effects. Cannabidiol (CBD)...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Jones, M., Alexander, M. E., Vanderzwalmen, M. et al. 2026. The effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in transport water on the behaviour of ornamental fishes. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 296, 106897.

Blue light exposure mitigates vibration noise-induced anxiety by enhancing serotonin levels

Prolonged exposure to vibration and noisy environments has been shown to contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. Pharmacological interventions are typically not administered during the early stages, which may lead to the uncontrolled progression of anxiety symptoms. In this...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Huo, L., Miao, X., Ren, Y. et al. 2026. Blue light exposure mitigates vibration noise-induced anxiety by enhancing serotonin levels. Physiology & Behavior 304, 115187.

Gas bubble venting: A novel behavioral indicator of stress in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Reliable, non-invasive behavioral indicators of stress are essential for improving real-time welfare monitoring in aquaculture, yet few validated markers are currently available for assessing the welfare of farmed fish. This study aimed to identify novel stress-related behaviors in Atlantic salmon...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Fish, Salmon

Citation: Gunnes, M., Green, E. A. L., Andersen, I. L. et al. 2025. Gas bubble venting: A novel behavioral indicator of stress in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 293, 106857.

Nile tilapia prefer water hyacinth as structural enrichment regardless of stocking density

In this study, we investigated whether Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a commonly farmed species worldwide, prefer artificial water hyacinth – easy-to-build and inexpensive – as a structural enrichment by investigating if different common farm stocking densities affect such response. We...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Tilapia

Citation: Favero Neto, J., Maia, C. M., de Oliveira, R. et al. 2026. Nile tilapia prefer water hyacinth as structural enrichment regardless of stocking density. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 29(2), 279–293.

Behaviour and spatial distribution of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in experimental tanks: Influence of water flow and husbandry procedures

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is increasingly employed as an experimental model, yet knowledge of its behaviour in laboratory settings is limited. This study examined short-term (24 h), mid-term (1 week), and circadian changes in behavioural and spatial patterns of individually-housed trout...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Trout

Citation: Bortoletti, M., Lõoke, M., Pascoli, F. et al. 2026. Behaviour and spatial distribution of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in experimental tanks: Influence of water flow and husbandry procedures. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 295, 106892.

Environmental enrichment with aquatic plants: Impact of the environment of choice on performance of bettas

This study aimed to evaluate the choice between environments with aquatic plants and the impact of the environment of choice on the performance of bettas (Betta splendens). First, the choice between environments with natural and artificial plants was evaluated. Adult...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Bender, M., Oliveira dos Santos Neves, N., Regina Delziovo, F. et al. 2025. Environmental enrichment with aquatic plants: Impact of the environment of choice on performance of bettas. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 28(4), 740–749.

Environmental enrichment increases aquatic animal welfare: A systematic review and meta-analysis

With the rapid development of aquaculture and the gradual decrease in fishery resources, aquatic animal welfare (AAW) has received increasing attention from animal protection organisations, government departments, biologists, fish culturists and consumers. Although environmental enrichment (EE) can potentially benefit AAW,...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish, Salmon, Tilapia, Trout, Zebrafish

Citation: Zhang, Z., Gao, L., Zhang, X. 2022. Environmental enrichment increases aquatic animal welfare: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reviews in Aquaculture 14(3), 1120–1135.

Pre-slaughter transport density and seasonal effects on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Welfare and filet quality outcomes

This study evaluated the effects of pre-slaughter transport density on physiological welfare indicators and fillet quality of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) during summer and winter. The experiment followed a completely randomized 3 × 2 factorial design, with three transport densities...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Fish, Tilapia

Citation: Terto, D. K., Bridi, A. M., Carvalho, R. H. de et al. 2026. Pre-slaughter transport density and seasonal effects on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Welfare and filet quality outcomes. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 13.