The Fish Husbandry of Zebrafish

In recent times, the zebrafish has been more closely monitored as aquatic experts have started using fish husbandry to provide adequate numbers of the different species. While the vast majority of this type of activity is done for commercial fish farming, many of the fish husbandry techniques done with the zebrafish are mainly concerned with the scientific and research possibilities of the fish. For locations where fish husbandry is a common practice, there is often an regulatory body that established guidelines that will protect the fish health and welfare. In this manner, a fish rearing process can take place where young fish are able to reach maturity without complications.

One of the most important concepts involved in fish husbandry is the actual fish health. Because the fish rearing situation is intended to be an ideal setting for reproduction and growth, steps must be taken by the fish hatchery to make sure that the fish population does not have unnecessary stress as this could cause a spread of disease or a lessening of the quality of the adult fish. To reach this end, regular inspections will need to be done to monitor both the physical appearance of the fish as well as the behavioral activities. To reduce the chances of widespread loss of a fish population, any dead fish must be removed as soon as possible from the setting and studied to determine if diseases are present.

A person that is wishing to get involved with fish husbandry will first need to learn about aquaculture and the basic techniques of fish rearing. These studies will often concern more than just working in a fish hatchery and educational programs will also include dealing with various types of fish in a wild setting rather than the controlled environment found in most fish husbandry situations.