Husbandry & Management

Improving effectiveness of environmental enrichment: The role of light intensity in rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) rearing

Environmental enrichment is a potential approach to enhance the fitness and survival of hatchery fish stocked for conservation purposes. Its effectiveness presumably depends not only on ecologically relevant features of physical enrichment but also on light condition applied. Despite the...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Li, Z., He, J., Zhou, S. et al. 2024. Improving effectiveness of environmental enrichment: The role of light intensity in rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) rearing. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 281, 106421.

Reducing hay waste from New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) by switching to hanging wire feeders from conventional food bowls

Rabbits require daily dietary fiber (hay) to help maintain a healthy digestive tract. As per our standard operating procedure (SOP), we give the rabbits hay and other daily food enrichment in a bowl. Rabbits are intelligent, playful, and curious animals...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & Management, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Hayes, R. A., Baker, C. L., Birke, L. L. 2024. Reducing hay waste from New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) by switching to hanging wire feeders from conventional food bowls. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(3) (May/June), 40–42.

A new laboratory research model: The Damaraland mole-rat and its managed care

The Damaraland mole-rat (Fukomys damarensis) is a subterranean, hypoxia-tolerant, long-lived rodent endemic to southern and central Africa that is increasingly being used in laboratory research. Its husbandry needs and characteristics differ from traditional rodent research models. Here, we provide a...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mole Rat, Rodent

Citation: Buffenstein, R., Smith, M., Amoroso, V. G. et al. 2024. A new laboratory research model: The Damaraland mole-rat and its managed care. JAALAS 63(6), 683–693.

Moving toward evidence-based care: Measuring preferences in zoo-housed aquatic turtles using 24-h remote monitoring

Providing evidence-based care to animals is a common goal in zoos and aquariums. However, there are many understudied species with a lack of information available, which may result in suboptimal care for individuals of these species. Using preference tests to...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: O'Brien, S. L., Koenig, S., Cronin, K. A. 2024. Moving toward evidence-based care: Measuring preferences in zoo-housed aquatic turtles using 24-h remote monitoring. Zoo Biology 43(5), 491–498.

Effect of adopting a timothy hay–based diet at weaning or in adulthood on urinary tract parameters in strain 13/N guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

Type of feed is an important consideration in herbivore colony management, yet limited studies report on the effects of diet on common conditions such as urolithiasis in guinea pigs. Urolithiasis is a well-documented cause of lower urinary tract disease in...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Wier, R. C., Flietstra, T. D., Coleman-McCray, J. D. et al. 2024. Effect of adopting a timothy hay–based diet at weaning or in adulthood on urinary tract parameters in strain 13/N guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). JAALAS 63(4), 385–396.

The impact of light, noise, cage cleaning and in-house transport on welfare and stress of laboratory rats

Human interaction and physical environmental factors are part of the stimuli presented to laboratory animals everyday, influencing their behaviour and physiology and contributing to their welfare. Certain environmental conditions and routine procedures in the animal facility might induce stress responses...

Year Published: 2009Topics: Husbandry & Management, Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Castelhano-Carlos, M. J., Baumans, V. 2009. The impact of light, noise, cage cleaning and in-house transport on welfare and stress of laboratory rats. Laboratory Animals 43(4), 311-327.

The future is not bright: Evaluation of rat preferences for color and intensity of light

Light is a key factor influencing the welfare of laboratory rodents, but little is known about their optimal lighting condition. It i common knowledge that rats prefer dim light, so bright light is mitigated with red-tinted shelters or cages, which...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Swan, M., Horvath, A., Pritchett, R. K. et al. 2024. The future is not bright: Evaluation of rat preferences for color and intensity of light. Animals 14(14), 2045.

A comparison of LED with fluorescent lighting on the stress, behavior, and reproductive success of laboratory zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)

There are limited evidence-based husbandry recommendations for laboratory zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), including appropriate light sources. Light-emitting diode (LED) technology has been shown to improve circadian regulation and reduce stress in some laboratory animal species, such as mice and rats,...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Finch

Citation: Backx, A. G., Wu, A., Tanner, A. et al. 2024. A comparison of LED with fluorescent lighting on the stress, behavior, and reproductive success of laboratory zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). JAALAS 63(3), 238–250.

Comprehensive husbandry protocol for Corydoras catfish and many other Amazonian species

A variety of fish species have proven instrumental in the investigation of evolution, behavior, ecology, and physiology, among many other fields. Many model systems (e.g., zebrafish, guppies, and three-spined sticklebacks) have been maintained by institutions and have had protocols written...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Chiang, A., Haine, S. S. S., Goldring, R. et al. 2024. Comprehensive husbandry protocol for Corydoras catfish and many other Amazonian species. JAALAS 63(5), 472–479.

Ammonia accumulation as a proxy to determine cage-change frequency in antelope ground squirrels (Ammospermophilus leucurus)

Due to a lack of evidence-based standards for cage-change intervals for antelope ground squirrels (AGS, Ammospermophilus leucurus), we evaluated cage ammonia accumulation in our colony of adult, wild-caught AGS and identified factors that influenced ammonia levels. Intracage ammonia was measured...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Ellis, M. M., Brune, J. E., Patil, K. et al. 2024. Ammonia accumulation as a proxy to determine cage-change frequency in antelope ground squirrels (Ammospermophilus leucurus). JAALAS 63(3), 251–256.