TY - CONF
T1 - Improving ornamental fish welfare during commercial transport
AU - Vanderzwalmen, Myriam
AU - Sloman, Katherine
AU - Snellgrove, Donna
AU - Carey, Peter
PY - 2019/7/2
Y1 - 2019/7/2
N2 - Millions of ornamental fishes undergo transport every year and
as a result can experience high levels of stress. Previous research
has focused on maintaining good water quality during transport;
few studies have considered how the transport environment might
be manipulated, e.g. using water conditioners or enrichment to
enhance fish welfare. We investigated whether a commercial water
conditioner (containingAloe vera) or environmental enrichment could improve the welfare of variatus platy (Xiphophorus variatus)
during commercial transport. Firstly, water conditioner was added
to transport bags for either long (Singapore to Scotland, > 30 h;
n=16 bags of fish with and without water conditioner) or short
(wholesaler to retailer within Scotland, < 9 h; n=11) commercial
transports. Secondly, enrichment was added to transport bags for
short (< 9 h; n =12 bags with and without enrichment) commercial
transports. Behaviour, mortality and body injuries of platys
were monitored on arrival at their destinations. No differences in
mortality or body injury were seen between treatments and controls;
mortality remained low throughout (<5%). Following long-haul
transport, platys shipped with water conditioner showed less erratic
swimming and were less aggressive during recovery. Addition of
water conditioner during the shorter transport also resulted in less
erratic swimming behaviour, although here an increase in chasing
behaviour was seen during recovery. These studies indicate that
the use of water conditioners and enrichment warrants further
research, particularly within transport chains were higher levels
of mortality exist.
AB - Millions of ornamental fishes undergo transport every year and
as a result can experience high levels of stress. Previous research
has focused on maintaining good water quality during transport;
few studies have considered how the transport environment might
be manipulated, e.g. using water conditioners or enrichment to
enhance fish welfare. We investigated whether a commercial water
conditioner (containingAloe vera) or environmental enrichment could improve the welfare of variatus platy (Xiphophorus variatus)
during commercial transport. Firstly, water conditioner was added
to transport bags for either long (Singapore to Scotland, > 30 h;
n=16 bags of fish with and without water conditioner) or short
(wholesaler to retailer within Scotland, < 9 h; n=11) commercial
transports. Secondly, enrichment was added to transport bags for
short (< 9 h; n =12 bags with and without enrichment) commercial
transports. Behaviour, mortality and body injuries of platys
were monitored on arrival at their destinations. No differences in
mortality or body injury were seen between treatments and controls;
mortality remained low throughout (<5%). Following long-haul
transport, platys shipped with water conditioner showed less erratic
swimming and were less aggressive during recovery. Addition of
water conditioner during the shorter transport also resulted in less
erratic swimming behaviour, although here an increase in chasing
behaviour was seen during recovery. These studies indicate that
the use of water conditioners and enrichment warrants further
research, particularly within transport chains were higher levels
of mortality exist.
M3 - Presentation
T2 - Society for Experimental Biology's Annual Meeting
Y2 - 2 July 2019 through 5 July 2019
ER -