Zebrafish, Danio rerio,
Husbandry
Round Table Discussion
Zebrafish Development and Genetics
MBL 2012
Zebrafish International Resource Center
•
Central Repository
•
Distribution of Lines &
Reagents
•
Health & Husbandry
Services
University of Oregon
Environmental and Water
Quality Parameters
•
Lighting: 14 hours/day
• Temperature: 28.5˚C (22-30˚C tolerated)
• pH: 7.2 to 7.6
• Conductivity: 500 -1500 µS
• Ammonia: 0 ppm
• Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: < 10 ppm
• Exchange rate: 10% per day (RO water)
Feeding
•
•
•
Larval Diets
• Dry - micro-capsule
• Live - Paramecia, Artemia
naupli, rotifers
Adult Diets
• Dry - Flake, pellet, crumble,
freeze dried
• Live - Artemia (brine shrimp)
• Varied diet recommended
2-4 feedings/day
• Do Not Overfeed
Larval Culture
• Nursery care 3+ weeks
• Feeding based on larval size
• Water changes
• Hand siphoning
• Continuous flow
• Lab specific protocols
• Day 0 to 4: 25-50 embryos per dish
• Day 5: transferred to tanks and fed
(paramecia, rotifers, powdered food,
artemia, or other)
• Day 5-9: <100 to 250 micron food
• Day 10-21: 100 to 500 micron food
• Day 21-25: transferred to
aquariums, 150 to 500 micron food
Breeding
•
Natural Crosses
•
•
Pairs or small groups
Embryo collection
• Special breeding tanks
• Marbles
•
In Vitro Fertilization
•
•
Synchronized development
of embryos
Do Not Over Breed
•
Allow 1-2 weeks between
breeding events
Biosecurity
Quarantine
• All fish from outside sources
• Isolated from central facility
• Tanks, racks, water system
• Equipment, nets, glassware, etc.
• Observation of adult fish
• Observe adults 2-3 weeks prior to
breeding
• Euthanatize or treat sick fish
• Surface sanitize embryos
• Highly recommended
Internal Biosecurity
• General Practices
• Remove sick and dead fish ASAP
• Minimize transfer of fish and water
between tanks
• Avoid disease spread from breeding/
out-crossing to wild-types
• Use nets in one tank only
• Sanitize equipment between use
• Sentinel Fish
• Exposure to return (dirty) water
• Observed daily
• Histopathology every 3-6 mo.
Contact Information
Zebrafish International Resource Center
University of Oregon
Web Address: www.zebrafish.org
April Freeman, Facility Manager: april@zebrafish.org
General Email: zirc@zebrafish.org
ZIRC is supported by grant P40 RR12546 from the NIH-NCRR.
Tufts University
Boston
Caitlin Stewart-Swift, Zebrafish Facility Supervisor:
Caitlin.Stewart_swift@tufts.edu