Influence of social enrichment on transport stress in fish: a behavioural approach

Ornamental fishes are among the most commonly owned companion animals in world, however, transportation process during acquisition can result being exposed to biotic and abiotic conditions which compromise welfare. While many studies have considered methods of improving welfare for food through physical social enrichment, few how improve ornamental post-transport. We investigated whether (i) introduced into an empty tank, a tank with resident conspecifics (variatus platys; Xiphophorus variatus), or heterospecifics (common mollies; P. sphenops) (ii) able see fish adjacent affected stress-associated behaviour Videos variatus platys their treatment tanks were taken immediately on release following transport, at 1, 24, 72, 120 168 h after release. Behaviours, including biting, chasing, erratic movement time spent immobile, analysed across all points. Latency forage was upon post-transport only. The composition that placed influenced majority behaviours analysed, however visual cues only had significant effect chasing post biting towards transported fish. Fish exhibited significantly more agonistic than those heterospecifics. Variatus shorter foraging latencies. It is clear has represents way retailers implement improvements.