The welfare benefits of social housing for zebrafish in research laboratory settings.
Zebrafish welfare in research settings has received growing attention as the species' importance in biomedical research has expanded, bringing welfare obligations proportionate to their use. The evidence that zebrafish are social animals with measurable stress responses to isolation places social housing in the welfare-critical category rather than an optional improvement. Research integrity is also served by appropriate social housing, as stressed, isolated zebrafish show altered physiology and behavior that can confound experimental results. The relatively straightforward management solution of social group housing makes this welfare improvement readily achievable in most laboratory settings.