Zebrafish: A Practical Guide to Husbandry, Welfare and Research Methodology

After securing popularity in home aquariums, zebrafish have also become an essential animal for biomedical research. Ensuring they are adequately cared for in research settings is therefore of the utmost importance and this book is designed to help laboratories develop good welfare and husbandry practices, refine procedural protocols and engage with ethical obligations.A wide range of topics are addressed, starting with husbandry aspects such as environmental enrichment, nutrition, housing conditions, diseases, health monitoring, biosecurity and larval rearing. More experimental topics are then discussed, such as genotyping, ageing, imaging, behavioural studies, experimental design and statistics. Ethical challenges are also considered through the environmental impact of aquatic facilities and the 3Rs - Replacement, Reduction and Refinement - with a focus on anaesthesia, analgesia, euthanasia and severity assessment. Zebrafish are a shoaling species by nature but this book also takes into account their individual needs by providing:- practical advice from experienced zebrafish caretakers;- bridges between data acquisition and fish welfare; and- the latest guidance for reporting, reproducibility and compliance.This book is written for zebrafish facility personnel and for researchers who are aware of the need for robust care for their zebrafish model. It also provides an unparalleled insight for ethics committee members with the intention to provide the best care possible for this ever-important fish.

Claire is a developmental biologist by training, having studied and worked with multiple model organisms on a variety of research projects since the mid-1990s. Prior to becoming the aquarium manager, Claire primarily worked in the laboratory of Prof. Philip Ingham FRS whose research exclusively involved the zebrafish model. Claire was pivotal in managing the Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes (TILLING) programme at Sheffield, collaborating closely with the Sanger Institute, Cambridge. The work that came out of the TILLING project directly contributed to the calculated shift in research, using the zebrafish model, from developmental biology to modelling disease. In 2008, Claire made a career change which utilised her knowledge of UK legislation and research management to become the aquarium manager. This role drew on her broad experience of research, training and understanding of UK project licences. As a Named Animal Care and Welfare Office, specialising in zebrafish, Claire now sits on several committees at the University of Sheffield concerned with the ethical review process. In 2016, Claire's reputation as a zebrafish facility manager led to her invitation to join the FishMed expert review committee, reporting to the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IIMCB), Warsaw, Poland. Subsequently, in 2018, Claire was voted onto the Zebrafish Husbandry Association (ZHA) board, and soon after became the president in 2019. In 2022, Claire was re-elected onto the ZHA board as Executive of Social Media and Outreach and will serve 2023-2024. Her research interests continue to be fuelled by and maintained through research management roles, particularly in anaesthesia, environmental enrichment and procedural work on adult fish. The 3Rs are an obvious and special interest of hers which led to her invitation onto the NC3Rs zebrafish working group and the FELASA working group on replacement. Outreach is also a major part of Claire's role within the zebrafish facility, and since 2009 she has managed over 140 events in many locations. Claire is a frequent contributor and speaker at many national and international husbandry network meetings, conferences and events.

J-P graduated in France as a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine at the start of the century. He practiced as a large animal vet across the French countryside, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. In 2009, he joined the Royal Veterinary College to dedicate his career to laboratory animals as a Named Veterinary Surgeon, providing his services to London's major academia and research institutes. His approach based on his experience of population medicine led him to the new shores of aquatic facilities. He devoted himself to the development of better care for zebrafish, thanks to experimental data supporting the 3Rs and the publication of recommendations. The latter was helped by J-P's leadership in activities of the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations, such as organising international congresses, chairing scientific committees, and convening working groups on aquatics.