This material is from the 4th edition of The Zebrafish Book. The 5th edition is available in print and within the ZFIN Protocol Wiki.

Chapter 2 - Breeding

A Zebrafish Breeding Schedule For Maximal Embryo Production

(Source: M. Westerfield)

Non-breeding days:

  • Dawn:feed dry/moist food and brine shrimp
  • Noon: feed flake food
  • Hour 13: feed flake food, siphon tank to remove debris and replace 1/3 of the water
    • Day before breeding:
  • Dawn: feed liver paste & brine shrimp
  • Noon: feed flake food
  • Hour 13: feed flake food, siphon tank to remove debris and replace 1/3 of the water, add males and marbles to female tank
    • Breeding day:
  • Dawn: siphon tank for embryos, remove males and marbles from breeding tank
  • Hour 2: feed dry/moist food and brine shrimp
  • Noon: feed flake food
  • Hour 13: feed flake food, siphon tank to remove debris and replace 1/3 of the water
    • Every 10 days: Transfer all fish to clean tanks
    The Zebrafish Book