Optimizing Zebrafish Care: Maintaining and Scaling Colonies

Best Practices for Long-Term Zebrafish Care and Husbandry

Once a zebrafish colony is established, consistent maintenance and scaling strategies are essential for long-term success. This guide provides detailed best practices for maintaining water quality, managing breeding groups, preventing diseases, and expanding colonies.

1. Daily and Weekly Maintenance

Routine care ensures a stable environment and healthy fish.

• Daily Tasks:
  • Feed adult zebrafish twice daily with a mix of flakes, pellets, and live or frozen food.
  • Observe fish for signs of stress or illness, such as erratic swimming or discoloration.
  • Check water temperature and ensure filtration systems are running properly.
• Weekly Tasks:
  • Test water parameters (pH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates).
  • Perform water changes to keep nitrate levels below 20 ppm.
  • Clean filters and remove waste buildup.

2. Disease Prevention and Management

Maintaining biosecurity is critical for preventing disease outbreaks.

• Quarantine New Fish:
  • Always quarantine new additions for at least 2 weeks.
• Monitor for Symptoms:
  • Look for signs of infections, such as fin rot or bloating.
  • Treat affected fish in isolation using approved medications.
• Cleaning and Sterilization:
  • Use sterilized equipment and avoid cross-contamination between tanks.

3. Zebrafish Breeding 

Zebrafish are prolific breeders, making them ideal for studies requiring large sample sizes.

• Spawning Setup:
  • Place 2–3 males with 1 female in a breeding tank with a mesh bottom to protect eggs.
  • Remove adults post-spawning to prevent egg predation.
• Egg Collection and Care:
  • Rinse eggs with clean water and transfer them to a separate tank.
  • Maintain optimal conditions (28°C and 7.0–7.5 pH) for embryo development.

4. Scaling Up Colonies

As your research needs grow, scaling your zebrafish colony becomes necessary.

• Expanding Tank Systems:
  • Invest in additional racks and tanks while maintaining water quality.
  • Train personnel to ensure consistent care across all systems.
• Record Keeping:
  • Maintain detailed logs for breeding, health status, and experimental groups.

Conclusion

Maintaining and scaling zebrafish colonies requires ongoing effort and attention to detail. By adhering to best practices for water quality, feeding, disease prevention, and breeding, researchers can ensure the long-term success of their colonies and support high-quality research outcomes.

Just getting started? Learn how to establish a zebrafish colony with our comprehensive guide: Establishing Zebrafish Colonies.

By Miriam Martínez Navarro

Miriam is a Human Biologist with a strong background in neuropharmacology and a passion for bridging science and innovation. After earning a master’s degree in the Pharmaceutical and Biotech Industry, she completed her PhD in Biomedicine at Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona), where her research focused on the behavioral analysis of animal models for neurophenotypical characterization. Following her doctoral studies, Miriam transitioned into the healthcare marketing and communication sector, where she played a key role in developing impactful marketing strategies and educational campaigns for leading pharmaceutical brands. She now leverages her scientific expertise, strategic thinking, and creative communication skills in her current role at ZeClinics.