Zebrafish Health and Welfare Glossary - Welfare Terms, Behavior
BEHAVIOR
Parameter | Welfare Indicators | Sub Category | Synonyms | Definitions | Severity Score | Picture |
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Individual | Inactive / Lethargic |
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| Reduced movement | Lack of movement | Reduced movement when compared to control | Mild: *Inactive / lethargic but responsive if disturbed and returns to normal activity Moderate: Inactive / lethargic even if provoked Severe: Inactive / lethargic even if provoked (non – responsive) |
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| Hanging at water surface |
| Staying at surface of water | Mild: *Inactive / lethargic but responsive if disturbed and returns to normal activity Moderate: Inactive / lethargic even if provoked Severe: Inactive / lethargic even if provoked (non – responsive) |
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| Sitting on bottom |
| Staying on bottom of tank but responsive to touch | Mild: *Inactive / lethargic but responsive if disturbed and returns to normal activity Moderate: Inactive / lethargic even if provoked Severe: Inactive / lethargic even if provoked (non – responsive) |
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| Immobile, unresponsive to touch |
| No movement even when provoked | Mild: *Inactive / lethargic but responsive if disturbed and returns to normal activity Moderate: Inactive / lethargic even if provoked Severe: Inactive / lethargic even if provoked (non – responsive) |
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Individual | Hyperactive |
| Flashing behaviour Overactive | Excessive activity | Mild: *Intermittent increased activity Moderate: Increased activity 'hyperactive' behaviour (very fast swimming) intermittently Severe: Increased activity 'hyperactive' behaviour continuously |
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Individual | Uncoordinated movements |
| Loss of balance | Altered ability to maintain skilful and effective interaction of movements or maintenance of equilibrium | Mild: *Intermittently unable to maintain skilful and effective coordination of movements Moderate: Unable to maintain skilful and effective interaction of movements with marginal loss of equilibrium Severe: Unable to maintain skilful and effective interaction of movements and maintenance of equilibrium |
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Individual | Rubbing of the body on tank |
| Flicking | Compulsive rubbing on the side of the tank or available surface | Mild: *Intermittent rubbing of the body on the tank Moderate: Increased activity and rubbing of the body on the tank intermittently Severe: Increased activity and rubbing of the body on the tank continously |
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Individual | Jumping out of the water |
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| Jumping out of the water of an undisturbed tank |
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Individual | Shaking |
| Shimmy | Staying in one place but moving side to side rapidly | Mild: *Intermittent shaking of the body Moderate: Increased activity or lethargic and shaking of the body intermittently Severe: Increased activity or lethargic and shaking of the body continously |
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Individual | Unable to descend |
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| Unable to descend, staying at surface of water or quickly floating back up to surface | Mild: *Intermittently unable to descend Moderate: Unable to descend continuously Severe: Unable to descend continously, unable to perform natural behaviours and abnormal development |
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Individual | Isolation |
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| Separates itself from others within the tank |
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Group Behavior | Aggressive |
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| When compared to controls, subjects exhibit greater than normal level of domineering or chasing behaviour |
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Group Behavior | Aggressive | Biting fins | Attacking Lesioning | Aggressive individual bites/attacks fins of other fish |
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Group Behavior | Non-Responsive |
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| Reduced response to tank mates | Mild: *Inactive / lethargic but responsive if disturbed and returns to normal activity Moderate: Inactive / lethargic even if provoked Severe: Inactive / lethargic even if provoked (non – responsive) |
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Group Behavior | Gathering at water inlet |
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| Gathering at water inlet point of oxygenation |
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