Housing

Exploring enrichment enjoyed by Zebrafish

Many studies highlighted that gravel is a preferred enrichment of zebrafish, therefore we were keen to explore this anecdotal evidence further, to ascertain if the spatial distribution of the zebrafish was significantly linked to the presence of physical enrichment within...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Waghorn, N. 2024, April. Exploring enrichment enjoyed by Zebrafish. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(1), 64–65.

Refinements to goat housing for ADME collections

Typically, ADME studies are conducted using metabolism cages designed for the single housing of animals to enable the quantitative collection of urine and faeces, normally over a 1 to 2 week period. It is well documented that providing a stimulating...

Year Published: 2024Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Goat

Citation: Wardrop, E. 2024, April. Refinements to goat housing for ADME collections. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(1), 66–67.

Exploring the similarities between risk factors triggering depression in humans and elevated in-cage “inactive but awake” behavior in laboratory mice

Depression is a human mental disorder that can also be inferred in non-human animals. This study explored whether time spent inactive but awake (“IBA”) in the home-cage in mice was further triggered by risk factors similar to those increasing vulnerability...

Year Published: 2024Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Schmitt, O., Finnegan, E., Trevarthen, A. et al. 2024. Exploring the similarities between risk factors triggering depression in humans and elevated in-cage “inactive but awake” behavior in laboratory mice. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

The impact of cage dividers on mouse aggression, dominance and hormone levels

Home cage aggression in group-housed male mice is a major welfare concern and may compromise animal research. Conventional cages prevent flight or retreat from sight, increasing the risk that agonistic encounters will result in injury. Moreover, depending on social rank,...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Streiff, C., Herrera, A., Voelkl, B. et al. 2024. The impact of cage dividers on mouse aggression, dominance and hormone levels. PLOS ONE 19(2), e0297358.

IntelliCage: The development and perspectives of a mouse- and user-friendly automated behavioral test system

IntelliCage for mice is a rodent home-cage equipped with four corner structures harboring symmetrical double panels for operant conditioning at each of the two sides, either by reward (access to water) or by aversion (non-painful stimuli: air-puffs, LED lights). Corner...

Year Published: 2024Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Lipp, H.-P., Krackow, S., Turkes, E. et al. 2024. IntelliCage: The development and perspectives of a mouse- and user-friendly automated behavioral test system. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 17.

Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens

The public has expressed growing concern for the well-being of fishes, including popular pet species such as the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens). In captivity, male Bettas behave aggressively, often causing injuries and death if housed together. As a result,...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Oldfield, R. G., Murphy, E. K. 2024. Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens. Animal Welfare 33, e1.

Effects of different tank sizes on laboratory rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus)-Under the same density

Laboratory fish play an important role in many research fields, and they are also raised and bred in many laboratories around the world. While many studies have suggested suitable feeding densities for various laboratory fish, significant variations exist in the...

Year Published: 2024Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Xu, C., Cui, Y., Yu, F. et al. 2024. Effects of different tank sizes on laboratory rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus)-Under the same density. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 27(3), 625–634.

Sleep quality in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) varies by housing type and following surgery

Sleep is an important contributor to good physical and mental health and an important component of post-surgical recovery. The assessment of dark phase (‘nighttime') behavior can provide insight into the efficacy of analgesic treatments and should be considered when assessing...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Housing, Social Housing & Companionship, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Paterson, E. A., O'Malley, C. I., Turner, P. V. 2024. Sleep quality in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) varies by housing type and following surgery. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 272, 106188.

Cooped up: Refinement of a Gallus gallus domesticus environment

Providing an enriched species specific environment, coupled with the principles of the 3Rs (Refinement, Reduction and Replacement) is at the heart of the poulty team team at The Pirbright Institute. Periodically reviwed custom made cage designs (Raised Floor Pens) have...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Matthews, B., New, R., Kanse, Y. M. et al. 2023. Cooped up: Refinement of a Gallus gallus domesticus environment. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 228–230.

An overview of black tree monitor (Varanus beccarii) husbandry

This article describes the enclosure, environmental parameters, feeding, enclosure dynamics, breeding, handling, identification, and enrichment for zoo-housed black tree monitors.

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Identification Method, Reproduction, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Newton, R. 2023. An overview of black tree monitor (Varanus beccarii) husbandry. RATEL (Journal of the Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers) 50(3-4), 24-25.